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ft. A 



“MISS BELINDA, WHERE DID YOU GET HIM?” 

. 38. 


\ ^ '' 

Miss Belinda’s Frie'mds.X 


BY ^ 

MARY DWINELL CHELLIS, 

W 

AUTHOR OF “the BREWERY AT TAYLORVILLE “tHE BREWER’s FORTUNE”; 

“all for money”; “ten cents”; “wealth and wine”; “our 
homes”; “the temperance doctor”; “aunt dinah’s 
pledge”; “at lion’s mouth”; “out of the fire”; 

“from father to son”; “bread and beer”; 

“fife and drum”; “drinking jack”; “the 
old tavern”; “a jolly time”; 

“profit and loss”; etc. 



NEW YORK; 

National Temperance Society and Publication House, 

58 READE STREET. 

1885. 


* 



COPYRIGHT, 1885, BY 

National Temperance Society and Publication House. 


Edward O. Jenkins* Sons, 
Printers and Stereotypers, 
ao North William Street^ New York* 


CONTENTS. 


Poor Fritter, 

CHAPTER 1. 

FAGB 

Teddy, 

CHAPTER 11. 

Miss Belinda, 

CHAPTER III. 

.•••••*37 

Chances, . 

CHAPTER IV. 

Janie Reegan, 

CHAPTER V. 

••*•••• 65 


CHAPTER VI. 


Teddy’s Temperance Society, . . . .78 


4 


Contents. 


CHAPTER VII. 

The First Glass of Wine, . 

CHAPTER VHI. 

The Opening of the Club-Room, 

CHAPTER IX. 

Worse than Dead, 

CHAPTER X. 

A New Departure, 

CHAPTER XI. 

Selling Peanuts, .... 

CHAPTER XII. 

Old Jerry Simpkins, . 

CHAPTER XIII. 
A Splendid Girl, .... 

CHAPTER XIV. 

A Hard Place, . . . . 

CHAPTER XV. 

A Saloon Closed, 


PAGE 

91 

104 

II6 

129 

I4I 

153 

165 

178 


192 


Contents. 


5 


PAGE 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Inherited, 206 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Money against Conscience, .... 219 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

“Wine is a Mocker,” 231 

CHAPTER XIX. 

The Old Rookery, 246 

CHAPTER XX. 

Reading-Room and Coffee-Room, . . . ,259 

CHAPTER XXL 

Poverty District, * 273 

CHAPTER XXH. 

Patty Ainsworth’s Work, 288 

CHAPTER XXHI. 

Cause for Thankfulness, 301 


6 


Contents. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

Mr. Leland’s Boys, , . . . . .315 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Changes, 329 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

Unfinished Work, 341 


MISS BELINDA’S FRIENDS. 


CHAPTER I. 

POOR FRITTER. 

“ There is poor Fritter coming up the 
garden-walk, handkerchief in hand, and 
eyes red with weeping,'^ exclaimed Elva 
Harris, a merry girl of seventeen. ‘‘ Prob- 
ably, as grandmother would say, her ‘ dear 
Johnny has broke loose again,' and she 
has come to you to lure him back to 
home and duty. I should think you would 
be quite worn out with that woman." 

‘‘ But you see I am not," was replied 
pleasantly. I wonder she is not worn 
out with all the trouble she has had. Such 
a hard, disappointed life must be terrible." 

Do you really believe, sister mine, that 
she ever had any bright anticipations ? Do 
you suppose she ever dreamed of happi- 
ness with the late, lamented Fritter? " 


8 


Miss Belinda s Friends, 


'' Of course she did ; she had her dreams, 
the same as other girls. You know grand- 
mother says she was very pretty, and so 
delighted at the thought of having a home 
of her own, that she would not believe 
anything against John Fritter, although 
other people knew he was too fond of beer 
and tobacco. I pity the poor woman, and 
so do you, Elva. You would help her as 
willingly as I do if she appealed to you.'' 

I am not sure of that, Sabra. You 
know I am living for pleasure, while you 
are living for duty, and there is all the dif- 
ference in the world between the two. I 
am glad I chose pleasure as my watch- 
word." 

'' I am glad I chose duty as mine,", said 
the elder sister, glancing at an elegantly 
embroidered motto, in which the single 
word, Duty," was so hidden by its sur- 
roundings of lilies and roses as not to be 
readily seen. 

Then we are both satisfied with our 
choice, but it is too bad you should be in- 
terrupted, when I know you had promised 


Poor Fritter, 


9 


yourself two hours for study this morn- 
ing” 

I may have part of that time even 
now.” 

‘'Not if poor Fritter once begins to 
pour her troubles into your sympathetic 
ear. Buy her off, and I will pay half the 
bill. I need your assistance, and you know 
charity begins at home.” 

Sabra Harris smiled upon her sister, 
and laying aside her books, went to meet 
the poor woman, who never doubted her 
kindness or ability, and who greeted her 
by exclaiming : 

“ My heart is nearly broken, and I had 
nowhere else to go. My Johnny is in 
Reegan's saloon,^ cursing and drinking, 
and he wouldn't come away for my calling 
him. I didn’t want to trouble you, but I 
can’t let him stay there, when I know he 
would come for your asking. He will 
never refuse you.” 

“ I will go with you,” said Sabra Harris 
quietly. “ But first come into the kitchen 
and have a cup of coffee with lunch.” 


lO 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


“Thank you, but I couldn’t eat; not if 
I was starving. My Johnny may do some- 
thing dreadful before we get there. O 
Miss Harris, you don’t know a mother’s 
heart.” 

“ Where is Teddy ? ” 

“At school. He is the bravest boy. 
He wouldn’t taste the liquor, if he was 
killed for it. I wish Johnny was like 
him.” 

“ Wait a moment and I will be ready. 
Have you coffee at home ? ” 

“Not a kernel. I couldn’t get money 
to buy it, besides bread for us three ; and 
the rent coming due. What will become 
of us, if Johnny goes on drinking ! ” 

Sabra Harris neither hesitated nor de- 
layed, but prepared herself for the pro- 
posed walk. 

“ Where are you going ? ” asked her 
sister. 

“ Going to find John Fritter. His moth- 
er says he is in Reegan’s saloon.” 

“And are you going into that horrid 
place ? ” 


Poor Fritter. 


1 1 


“ If it seems necessary.” 

“ Do you think it your duty to do 
that? ” 

“Yes, if there is no other way to ac- 
complish my purpose.” 

“ If father and mother were here, I 
don’t believe they would approve of it.” 

“ I think they would. They would wish 
me to act according to my convictions of 
duty.” 

Sabra Harris would gladly have excused 
herself from the task before her, but there 
seemed no alternative. Having begun a 
good work, she was not one to leave it 
unfinished because of difficulties. So she 
walked on with Mrs. Fritter, until they 
reached a part of the town where idlers 
congregated and saloons found ready cus- 
tomers. 

Reegan’s was the most uninviting place 
of all. The windows were closed and cur- 
tained, as if to screen its inmates from 
observation ; yet the door stood slightly 
ajar, so that sounds from within could be 
distinctly heard in the street. 


12 


Miss Belindas Friends, 


That is John/’ cried the mother, as a 
terrible oath was uttered, followed by the 
refrain of a low drinking song. 

She would have pushed her way in, had 
not her companion detained her, while 
ringing the bell, to which Mrs. Reegan re- 
sponded from her rooms over the saloon, 
bidding Miss Harris a cordial welcome. 

‘‘ Can I see your husband ? ” asked the 
young lady, after an exchange of greet- 
ings. 

I don’t know, ’though I’m sure he’d 
be glad to please you,” was the hesitating 
reply. Janie is always talking of her 
Sunday teacher, and he is sure to think as 
she does. Come up the stairs, and I’ll do 
my best to bring him to you. If Janie was 
here, he would come for her call. I’ll send 
little Pat. He wouldn’t heed me.” 

No more did he heed little Pat, who 
came crying back, reporting that his fa- 
ther had threatened him with a whipping, 
and declaring that he wouldn’t go again 
for anything. 

I am sorry,” said Mrs. Reegan, evi- 


Poor Fritter. 


13 


dently mortified at the result of her effort. 
“ Can I tell my husband when he comes 
up to dinner? ” 

“ It will be too late then. I will go into 
the saloon myself.” 

“ O Miss, don’t go there,” exclaimed the 
saloon-keeper’s wife. "You don’t know 
what it’s like in there. There’s a deal of 
news stirring this morning, and there’s a 
free lunch, or something, to run against 
the saloon opposite. Oh ! I’d be the hap- 
piest woman in all the wide world if every 
drop of beer and whiskey was poured into 
the big sea and never another drop made. 
Janie hates it. She learned that of you. 
Miss, and I wish she was here. She’d 
bring her father to you. Don’t go there. 
Miss Harris; it is getting worse every 
minute.” 

“ But I must go. Mrs. Fritter’s son is 
there, and I have promised to call him 
out.” 

“ If you are going, call them all out. 
Miss, and never let them go in again. I’d 
rather wash seven days in a week and live 


14 Miss Belindas Friends. 

on a crust, than have my children brought 
up within sound of such a dreadful place.” 

“ Then why do you let your husband 
keep such a place ? ” asked Mrs. Fritter. 

“ Let him ! ” repeated Mrs. Reegan. 
“ Have you lived so long in the world and 
not learned that a poor woman’s words 
don’t count against liquor ? There’s them 
who might talk and act, too, but they are 
too bound up in their own ease and pleas- 
ure. If I was rich and had grand learn- 
ing, I’d fight the liquor with all my might. 
It’s that I want Janie to do. The likes of 
Miss Harris are the ones to be heard.” 

“ I will be heard,” responded Sabra 
Harris, and without stopping to count 
again the obstacles in her way, she went 
down the stairs and into the saloon, where, 
addressing the proprietor, she said : 

“ I am looking for some one I was told 
I should find here.” 

In his surprise at sight of the speaker and 
the sound of her voice, he let fall a glass 
from his hand, while the attention of every 
one in the room was fixed upon her. 


Poor Fritter. 


^5 

“Who is it?” asked Mr. Reegan, hesi- 
tatingly. 

“John Fritter,” replied Miss Harris. “I 
am going to his mother’s, and I wish him 
to accompany me.” 

“ I am sorry. Miss Harris, but he is in 
no fit condition to be company for any lady, 
let alone yourself, the finest lady of all.” 

“ But, Mr. Reegan, I shall be very much 

obliged to you if you will send ” Here, 

'seeing the person of whom she had come 
in search, she called to him : 

“ Come, John, some one is waiting for 
you.” 

“ It is the old woman. She has been 
after him once this morning,” remarked a 
middle-aged man, so much intoxicated that 
he ventured upon a coarse joke, which, 
however, had no sooner passed his lips 
than Reegan sprang toward him and would 
have felled him to the floor had not others 
interfered. 

“Miss Harris, I will have John Fritter 
outside the door in two minutes,” said a 
young man who had drank less than his 


1 6 Afzss Belindcis Friends. 

companions. '' I beg of you not to stay 
here longer. It is no fit place for you.'' 

Is it a fit place for you ? " she asked, 
looking steadily into his flushed face. 

It was not fit for me a month ago, but 
I am different now," he answered. ‘‘ Don't 
stop. I will have John Fritter at the door 
as soon as possible." 

She waited to hear no more. Outside 
she found Mrs. Fritter, and presently John 
appeared, although unable to walk or stand 
without assistance. The young man who 
had taken him thus far offered to accom- 
pany him home, which offer was gladly 
accepted ; Sabra Harris and Mrs. Fritter 
leading the way until they reached a dilapi- 
dated house beyond the limits of the vil- 
lage. Here they were met by a pale-faced 
woman, leaning upon a crutch, who said : 

“You never did a better morning's work. 
Miss Harris, than you have done in bring- 
ing this boy home. We are strangers, but 
we are travelling the same road; and, if I 
am not mistaken, we are looking forward 


Poor Fritter. 


17 

to the same rest at the end. You are Dr. 
Harris' daughter ? " 

“ Yes, ma'am ; and you ? " 

'H am Belinda Mann. Your father will 
remember the Manns in his native town. 
But I won't keep you talking, when your 
work is only half done. Mrs. Fritter, I 
have made a fire in your kitchen ; I 
thought you might need it." 

“ Can I be of further service ? " asked 
the young man, who still gave a supporting 
arm to John Fritter. 

'' You can be of service to me if you will 
come in," answered Sabra Harris, who 
wished to know more of him, hoping that 
she might induce him to remain away from 
the saloon. 

He would have much preferred to hurry 
from her sight, yet he could not refuse the 
invitation so kindly given. 

I wish I had some coffee, but I have 
only tea," said Miss Mann, coming into 
Mrs. Fritter’s kitchen. ‘‘There is nothing 
better than strong coffee for killing the. 
effects of liquor." 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


Another had thought of this, and it was 
not long before two steaming cups of coffee 
were presented to John Fritter and his 
companion. These being quickly drank, 
more were brought, which so cleared the 
poor boy’s brain that he realized his shame- 
ful condition. 

"'O Johnny, how could you do it, after 
you promised so sure and strong,” cried his 
mother, seizing his hands and holding them 
fast in her own. '' Did you spend the 
money I gave you to buy flour, and not 
another cent in the house ? If you did, we 
shall starve.” 

I can earn some more,” he said in a 
faltering voice. 

'‘Then it is gone. O Johnny, how 
could you do it, and Teddy to come home 
with nothing to eat.” 

" I am sorry, mother. Forgive me this 
once more, and I promise never to taste 
of liquor again.” 

"There is some excuse for him,” now 
said John’s companion. " Reegan offered 


Poor Fritter, 


19 

a free lunch, and work is so dull, it was a 
temptation to some of us poor fellows/’ 

I am afraid it was a dear lunch to some 
of you,” responded Sabra Harris. ‘‘ Such 
drink as Reegan sells costs more than 
good wholesome food ; and if the lunch 
was advertised as free, no one doubts that 
he expected to be well paid for it. He did 
not intend it as either a charity or a kind- 
ness.” 

‘'No, ma’am; he is working for him- 
self, whatever he does. I am sure of that ; 
but when a fellow is desperate, he is sure 
to do the most foolish things.” 

“ Why need any one be desperate when 
the sun shines upon him, and God’s love 
is over him ? There is never a cloud so 
dark but has a silver lining.” 

“ There is the cloud of sin. Miss Har- 
ris.” 

“The blood of Christ cleanseth from all 
sin. You must have heard that.” 

“Yes, ma’am; more times than I can 
count. My father and mother were Chris- 
tians, and I was never so bad as I am 


20 


Miss Belindas Friends, 


now, before I came to this town. There 
is no excuse for me, either, 'though I have 
had hard luck. I expected to find work, 
so I could provide for my little sisters, but 
I can't do it. They have enough to eat, 
where they are, but they might be hungry 
with me. I don't know why I have told 
you so much about myself," added the 
speaker. “ I am afraid I have troubled 
you, but I didn't want you to think worse 
of me than I deserve." 

Will you tell me your name? " asked 
Sabra Harris, more and more interested 
in the stranger. 

My name is Henry Barlow," he an- 
swered. 

And you have sisters ? " 

I have two sisters ; little girls, who 
have no home except as they earn it." 

And you were looking for work ? " 

Yes, ma'am." 

I think I can help you to find work, 
if you are willing to do whatever offers, 
and will keep away from liquor-saloons. 
You must love your sisters better than 


Poor Fritter. 


5t 

you love the drink you know will ruin 
you/' 

I do love them, Miss Harris, and I 
promised my mother, when she was dying, 
that I would take care of them. They 
love me too. It almost broke their hearts 
to be separated from me." 

For a moment after saying this, Henry 
Barlow was silent; his thoughts going 
back to the old home, where he had lived 
with father, mother, and sisters. Then 
springing to his feet, he exclaimed : 

The spell is broken. I am free again. 
I will do with my might what my hands 
find to do, and I will never taste of liquor 
again." 


CHAPTER II. 


TEDDY. 

“ How is poor Fritter and poor Fritter’s 
Johnny?” asked Elva Harris, as her sis- 
ter came into the dining-room with flushed 
face and weary step. 

“ I left them better and happier than I 
found them,” was replied. 

“ So much better, that you feel paid for 
the effort and self-denial it cost you ? I 
know it was a self-denial for you to give 
up your books and go in search of Johnny 
dear.” 

“ I feel amply repaid for all I have done. 
I hope I have saved Johnny, and I believe 
I have saved another, you would think 
better worth saving.” 

“ Did you go into Reegan’s saloon ? ” 

“ I did.” 

“ O Sabra, how could you ! It must be 
( 22 ) 


Teddy. 


23 


a dreadful place. Susan West will be 
more astonished at you than she ever was 
before.” 

“ It will be well if Susan West never 
needs go to a drinking-saloon for her 
brother. I went because I could do my 
duty in no other way. You know I be- 
lieve we can accomplish almost anything 
we really desire ; but we can not choose 
the way in which to accomplish it. I found 
a young man in the saloon ready to help 
me, and now I intend to help him.” 

“ It is not possible that you enjoyed your 
morning’s work.” 

“ I am sure I did ; or, rather, I did not 
take the question of enjoyment into con- 
sideration. I only went straight forward 
with what I had to do.” 

“ I tried to go straight forward with what 
I had to do, but the fates were against me. 
It seemed to me I was never so stupid be- 
fore. It must have been for want of your 
inspiring presence. Lucinda, too, missed 
you. She wished to consult you about the 
dinner. She thinks you know almost as 


24 Miss Belindas Friends. 

much as mother, who is to her the very 
perfection of womanhood. It is wonderful 
how she has improved since father took her 
out of that wretched family. She does 
credit to her training.” 

“ Most people can be won by kindness ; 
and to her, poor child, kindness had the 
added charm of novelty.” 

Just then the door opened and a young 
girl came in, whose plain face lighted up 
at sight of Sabra Harris, with something 
so akin to beauty as to seem almost trans- 
figured. Soon after she brought in dinner 
and the sisters were left to themselves. 

The afternoon was spent quietly in read- 
ing and sewing, while watching for the re- 
turn of their parents from a visit to distant 
friends. 

“ We have been in search of pleasure ; 
now we have come back to duty,” said Dr. 
Harris, after having made a careful inspec- 
tion, to assure himself that nothing had 
suffered during his absence. 

As it proved, there was an immediate 
call for his services, so that conversation 


Teddy, 


25 


was postponed until morning, when Sabra 
asked him if he had ever known a woman 
by the name of Belinda Mann. 

I knew a girl by that name/' he re- 
plied. '' A brave girl she was, too ; fight- 
ing her own way in the world, and doing 
her best to keep a standing place for a 
drunken father, a discouraged mother, and 
a shiftless, reckless brother, considerably 
older than she was. I have not heard her 
name for more than twenty years, but I can 
remember just how she looked as she came 
hurrying into school, always a little late, 
yet sure to have her lessons learned in sea- 
son. Her father moved out of town before 
I went away to school, and I have hardly 
thought of her in all these years." 

‘H saw her yesterday," said Sabra. 

Saw her ! " repeated the doctor. 

Where ? " 

She lives in the house with Mrs. Fritter. 
She moved there last week, so she could 
more conveniently get work at sewing straw 
and knitting mittens. She told me she was 
alone in the world, dependent upon her 


26 


Miss Belinda's Friends. 


own hands for support. She said she 
couldn’t count much on her feet since she 
injured her hip, although she is able to 
move about with the aid of a crutch.” 

“ Strange you should have seen her. 
She must have changed a great deal, but 
I should be glad to renew my acquaintance 
with her. She came to school, one winter, 
wearing such a thin, faded calico dress, 
that we boys contributed enough to pay 
for something warm and comfortable for 
her, but she was none the warmer for it. 
She gave the merino to her mother and 
kept on wearing the same old dress. It 
was like her, too, to consider her mother 
before herself ; but her way did not suit 
us boys, who thought Belinda the only 
member of the family worthy of any con- 
sideration.” 

" I fancy she is as brave and unselfish as 
ever. I left Mrs. Fritter in her care, and 
she promised to look well after John.” 

“She will do it. You may trust her for 
that ; and if Mrs. Fritter and John are not 
past hope she will inspire them with some- 


Teddy. 


27 


thing like energy. We must do what we 
can for her too. She has earned the right 
to a comfortable living. I hope she will 
not feel it her duty to adopt the poor 
Fritters.” 

“ I hope not, although she might do 
worse than to adopt Teddy. He is going 
forward as fast as his bare feet will carry 
him.” 

“ That is true, Sabra. He is a constant 
wonder to me. Every hair on his bushy 
head bristles with life, and I never see him 
without feeling that every step he takes 
has some definite purpose. When he is 
older, I think the family fortunes will begin 
to improve.” 

“ If not, Sabra will exhaust herself,” said 
Elva. “And really, father, do you think 
John Fritter is of sufficient consequence for 
her to go to Reegan’s saloon after him ? ” 

“ Reegan’s saloon is a wicked place, but 
John Fritter’s soul is worth as much as 
yours or mine ; and if the saloon was the 
only place where he could be reached, 
there was the place to go for him. Sabra 


28 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


had no choice in the matter. I can trust 
her common sense to decide all questions 
of propriety.'' 

'' Thank you, father," said the daughter, 
smiling brightly. ‘‘ I wish never to go 
there again, but I am sure Mr. Reegan 
would not allow me to be insulted on his 
premises. Janie is the very apple of his 
eye, and, as her Sunday-school teacher, 
he would consider me entitled to respect. 
I hope my visit to his saloon may benefit 
others besides John Fritter." 

I hope so, Sabra. I bid you God-speed 
in your work, and you can count on my 
assistance whenever it is needed." 

Sabra Harris was admired by all who 
knew her. Her superior mental endow- 
ments, fine scholarship, and winning man- 
ners, had made her a universal favorite in 
school; while her ready sympathy and 
generous helpfulness endeared her to many 
who could better appreciate the loving 
heart. People were accustomed to her 
quiet independence, but they were sur- 
prised to know that she had really stood 
within the door of a liquor-saloon. 


Teddy. 


29 


Mr. Reegan insisted upon his right to 
sell what he pleased, refusing to listen to 
his wife’s entreaties to shut up '' the vile 
hole,” and even turning a deaf ear to Ja- 
nie’s remonstrances ; yet, as he afterward 
said, the minute Miss Harris stepped over 
the threshold of his door, he felt that he 
was engaged in the meanest business a 
man could have. Janie was distressed 
that her teacher, whom she regarded with 
such reverent affection, should have seen 
her father amid such surroundings. 

‘‘You don’t know what a commotion 
you have raised,” said Elva, teasingly, to 
her sister. 

“ If I have raised a commotion which 
will advance the cause of temperance ever 
so little, I shall be thankful,” answered 
Sabra. 

“ The cause of temperance must lay very 
near your heart. Ever since your last 
winter’s visit, you have seemed to think 
the drinking of even a glass of wine a 
deadly sin.” 

“ It often leads to a deadly sin. I never 


30 Miss Belindas Friends, 

thought how often until last winter when I 
was induced to study up the subject. After 
doing that, I could not avoid feeling that I 
had some responsibility in the matter/' 

But seriously, Sabra, it is all so tire- 
some to a poor mortal like me, who is try- 
ing to look only on the pleasant side of 
things. You are fast becoming an enthu- 
siast if not a fanatic." 

Remember my church vows, Elva. 
They bind me to live for the glory of God 
and the salvation of the world. I know 
you believe in consistency, and I am only 
trying to live, as far as I can, in accordance 
with my profession. Do my best, I shall 
come far short of my duty." 

You always silence me, good, wise sis- 
ter that you are. I have no more to say, 
only I do hope your efforts will be appre- 
ciated." 

“ I hope so, too, but if they are not, I 
must go on all the same. I believe Teddy 
Fritter appreciates all that is done for him, 
whatever his brother may do. The very 
sight of him gives me renewed courage." 


Teddy, 


31 


Teddy well deserved this commendation. 
He was always on the alert for opportuni- 
ties to help himself and others, each new 
emergency seeming to awaken a new sense 
of responsibility. Of this fresh proof was 
given when, early the third morning after 
his brother s disgraceful fall, he came to 
ask Miss Harris if she knew of anybody 
who would hire him for a job.” 

I can do lots of work, if I am such a 
little fellow,” he said confidently. The 
largest men ain’t always the smartest. 
Teacher told us so yesterday, and you see 
I have got to do something to take care of 
mother.” 

'' But where is John ?” asked his friend. 

‘‘ He worked yesterday, and he is going 
to work to-day, though mother is scared 
half to death to have him out of her sight. 
She knows I won’t touch a drop of liquor 
any more than I’d steal, so she ain’t scared' 
about me. I didn’t have any supper, be- 
cause there wasn’t anything but some 
bread, and I left that for mother and John. 
Miss Belinda got breakfast for them and 


32 Miss Belindas Friends. 

offered me some, but I am going to earn 
mine before I eat it/' 

‘‘And you have had nothing to eat since 
yesterday noon ? ” 

“ Only some berries and a piece of gin- 
gerbread the baker gave me for doing an 
errand. I ought to carried it home, but it 
looked so good it was all gone before I 
thought.” 

“ You must be hungry, Teddy.” 

“ Not much, but I think I will be by the 
time I’ve earned a breakfast.” 

“ What if you don’t get a chance to earn 
it?” 

“ Then I’ll have to go without, because 
you see yesterday I just made up my mind 
I wouldn’t cost anybody else anything. 
I’m going to run myself and pay my own 
bills, and do just as much more as I can. 
Now I’m out looking for a job, and I came 
here first, because I knew you was so good 
you wouldn’t be out of patience and send 
me off in a hurry without giving me a 
chance to tell what I wanted.” 

“ I am glad you came to me first, Teddy, 


Teddy, 


33 


There is plenty of work to be done in our 
garden. I heard father say yesterday that 
the weeds were overtopping some of the 
vegetables.'' 

Might I pull them, Miss Harris ? I 
won't leave a single root and I'll work real 
cheap. If I'm told which are the things to 
pull and which the ones to leave, I won't 
make any mistake about it." 

'' I will engage you to do the weeding, 
but you ought to have some breakfast be- 
fore you go to work." 

Won't I earn it if I work a whole hour 
real fast ? " asked the boy a little anxiously. 

Certainly you will." 

Then please show me, so I can begin 
right off." 

I will," answered Sabra Harris, add- 
ing quickly, however, as the doctor drove 
up : There comes father. I will tell him 
about it," and in a few words he was made 
to comprehend the situation. 

Teddy received a cordial greeting from. 
Dr. Harris, with the offer of breakfast be- 


3 


34 Miss Belindas Friends. 

fore doing a stroke of work ; declining 
which, he was shown to the garden. 

I can do it,” he said, sturdily, when he 
understood what was required of him. '' I 
can’t do it all to-day, but I can keep at it 
all my spare time till there isn’t a weed left. 
Dr. Harris, how much do you think it will 
be worth to do it all up in first-rate shape ? ” 
I don’t know exactly. How much 
would you be willing to do it for ? ” 

"‘Would you be willing to give me a 
dollar in ten-cent pieces, and give me one 
ten-cent piece every night, so I could have 
something to live on the next day ? ” 
asked Teddy, looking up to the doctor 
somewhat doubtfully. 

“Yes, I am willing to pay that, and 
give you your breakfasts and suppers be- 
sides,” was replied with a smile. 

“And wouldn’t you think it too much, 
as though it was part charity.^ because, 
you know, doctor, I ain’t going on charity.” 

“I know, Teddy, but it will be worth 
all that to me, to have my garden well 
weeded.” 


Teddy. 35 

'^Then, sir, it is a bargain, and I will 
have it done as soon as I can/' 

Take your own time for it. You 
needn’t hurry, although the sooner the 
weeds are out of the way, the better it will 
be for my vegetables." 

‘‘Yes, sir"; and without further com- 
ment, Teddy began his task. 

For an hour he worked steadily, when 
Lucinda called him to breakfast. 

'' Is it time ? " he asked, and being as- 
sured of this, he made no delay in re- 
sponding to the call. 

Thoroughly washed, and his hair well 
brushed, he was by no means an unattract- 
ive-looking boy, while the smile which 
overspread his face at sight of the food 
prepared for him was '‘worth going far to 
see." 

He was so happy, and his work so sat- 
isfactory, that on the second day Mrs. 
Harris proposed that he be taken into the 
family as "chore-boy"; to be fed, clothed, 
and educated. 

" O thank you, ma'am ; I can't tell you 


36 Miss Belindds Friends. 

how glad I’d be to have such a home,” 
said Teddy, when the proposal was made 
to him. “ But there’s mother and John. 
They’d get discouraged, and maybe give 
up, if I wasn’t there nights. Miss Belinda 
says folks are made up different, and the 
Lord meant the strong should help the 
weak. I am so small, perhaps you wouldn’t 
think of calling me strong, but I’m strong 
in here”; and the boy pressed his hand to 
his side, where he could feel the beatings 
of a heart as true and brave as Miss Be- 
linda’s own. 


CHAPTER III. 


* MISS BELINDA. 

To many the room would have seemed 
poor and plain, but to Miss Belinda and 
Miss Belinda's cat it was pleasant and even 
luxurious. 

In each of the two front windows was a 
thrifty geranium in full bloom, while out- 
side, vines had been planted ; the shade 
of which was enjoyed by anticipation. By 
one of these windows was a well-cush- 
ioned rocking-chair, with its attendant ta- 
ble, work-basket, and bundles of braid, 
waiting for the willing fingers, worn hard 
and thin by constant toil. 

This for Miss Belinda, while in one cor- 
ner of the room was a patchwork-covered 
hassock for the cat which had been her 
companion for years. She called him Mar- 
tin Luther; and if he was not a reformer, 

( 37 ) 


38 Miss Belindas Friends. 

he had surely been a great comforter to 
his otherwise lonely mistress. 

“ Miss Belinda, where did you get 
him?” asked Teddy Fritter, as he petted 
the docile animal. 

“ I bought him in a liquor-shop,” she 
replied. “ A man sold him for a glass of 
liquor, and I paid ten cents for him. There 
was going to be a turkey shoot, and the 
man who bought him was going to put up 
Martin to be shot at just for fun.” 

“ Why didn’t the man who owned him 
give money for his liquor instead of giving 
a cat ? ” 

“ Because he was so poor he hadn’t any 
money. He didn’t own even a cat. Mar- 
tin belonged to his little girl, and she felt 
dreadfully when her father carried him off. 
But when she found I had him, she was 
glad, and used to come to see him almost 
every day.” 

“ Where is the little girl now ? ” 

“ In Heaven. She was sick and died ; 
but she wasn’t afraid to die, because she 
knew the Saviour had a home ready for 


Miss Belinda, 


39 


her; and she was so happy, thinking of 
a home where she could stay, and not have 
to move every little while/' 

I don't wonder she was. Miss Belinda. 
Things always get stove up, moving, and 
something always gets lost ; 'though when 
we came here, I looked after things my- 
self, and mother said it was the best mov- 
ing she ever had. I hope we can stay 
here right along now. If we could only 
hire all the rooms, so there couldn't 
anybody else come in, I should feel better, 
because you never know who may come. 
Perhaps, though, it will be somebody we 
shall all like. We wondered about you, 
and now we like you almost as well as we 
do ourselves. But, Miss Belinda, how 
came you to go into a place where they 
sold liquor ? ” 

I went after a boy who was in there." 
‘'And did you get him ? ” 

“Yes, I did, and he didn't go there 
again, either. I saved a boy and a cat." 

“ I guess they were both worth saving. 
It was real grand in Miss Sabra to go for 


40 Miss Belindas Friends. 

John, and it was just as grand in you to go 
for the boy you wanted. I am going to 
hold on to John, but I tell you. Miss 
Belinda, I am tip-top glad that I ain’t like 
him, so I need somebody else to hang on 
to me. It seems as though anybody as big 
as he is oughtn’t to depend on a little fel- 
low like me.” 

“It does seem so, Teddy, but you re- 
member I told you we are all dependent.” 

“Yes, ma’am. I suppose I knew it 
before, but since you told me I feel it 
different. I pray to God every night and 
morning, and He helps me all day long. I 
know He does. If John would pray he 
wouldn’t be so slimsey. But there’s 
mother calling, and there’s Dr. Harris 
coming with Miss Sabra. Come, Martin 
Luther ! ” and away Teddy bounded, with 
the cat in full pursuit. 

Dr. Harris had changed much since he 
was a school-boy, but the moment he ad- 
dressed her in his old hearty way. Miss 
Belinda was sure she would have recog- 
nized him anywhere. 


Miss Belinda, 


41 


I am glad to meet you again/' he said, 
in a tone which left no doubt of his sincer- 
ity. '' I remember of telling you, more 
than thirty years ago, that if I was in your 
place I would give up and not try to do 
any more, but I see you have kept on all 
the same." 

'^Yes, sir; I was obliged to keep on. 
There was work to be done which no one 
else would do." 

The lot fell upon you ? " 

It did, Dr. Harris. I have wondered 
why it was such a lot, when I woul4 have 
had it so different; but the good Lord 
knows all about it, if I don’t. I fought 
against it until I learned my lesson ; then 
I stopped fighting and prayed for strength 
and patience." 

I judge that you received it? " 

Yes, sir. I was never confined to my 
bed for a day in my life until I was left 
alone with no one dependent upon me.” 
Then your family are all dead ? ” 

Yes, sir ; and when they were gone I 
grieved because I had ever thought it hard 


42 Miss Belinda's Friends. 

to do for them. Mother was the last to 
go, and she has been dead five years. 
They have been long years too.” 

“Your pardon, Miss Mann, but how long 
have you been lame ? ” 

“ Three years. I got a bad fall, and 
didn’t have the care I needed ; so I suf- 
fered more than I should with a good 
home and good nursing.” 

Further questions, kindly asked, elicited 
the fact that she had saved a little money, 
with which she paid her expenses while 
unable to work. 

“ It was a dark day when I spent my 
last cent and knew not how I was to earn 
another,” said Miss Belinda, tears filling 
her eyes as she recalled what she had then 
suffered. “At last I remembered I had 
some straw in the house, enough for a 
boy’s hat, and just as I finished it a boy 
came along who had lost a hat and was 
glad to buy mine. So I was provided for, 
and I have never been discouraged since 
then, ’though I have seen some pretty hard 


Miss Belinda. 


43 


times. Now I have this comfortable place, 
and perhaps I can do some good here.'' 

Good needs to be done, Miss Mann, 
and I know of no one better qualified to do 
it. I am sure you can teach Mrs. Fritter 
lessons of thrift and economy, and if it is 
possible to inspire her with anything like 
ambition and energy, you can do that." 

'' If I could walk, I could do a great deal 
more for myself and others. It was a ter- 
rible trial to me to be a cripple. I used 
to think I might grow better in time, but I 
have not gained any for a year, so I must 
content myself as I am." 

I am not sure of that," replied the doc- 
tor, who was a skillful surgeon, and who 
saw here the possibility of doing a great 
kindness. I have an hour to spare this 
morning, and if you will regard this as a 
professional call, I will investigate your 
case and give you my opinion of it. It will 
cost you nothing, and I may possibly be 
able to help you. Will you tell me how 
you got the fall which crippled you ? " 

Miss Belinda hesitated for a moment 


44 Afzss Belindas Friends, 

and then said, in answer to this ques- 
tion : 

'' I have never told any one how I got 
that fall, but I will tell you. A drunken 
man knocked me down. He was a 
stranger. I never saw him before, and I 
have never seen him but once since. He 
was sorry for the accident. It was an acci- 
dent, and I have tried not to blame him. I 
always hoped some good would come of it.'' 

What a curse liquor has been to you ! " 

^Wes, Dr. Harris, it has been the curse 
of my life. It has laid a burden upon me 
every day, and I don't know as I have 
done with it yet. Sometimes I have 
allowed myself to think what I might have 
done if it hadn't been for liquor, but it was 
my lot to be bound by it. The man who 
knocked me down came to see me a week 
afterward, and promised, with his hand on 
my Bible, never to drink any more liquor. 
Then he knelt down by my bed and I 
prayed for him. He said if he prospered 
I should hear from him." 

‘‘ And have you heard ? " 


Miss Belinda. 


45 


sir; but I pray for him every 
night. He was a young man, who looked 
as though there ought to be something 
better before him than a drunkard's life.” 

This led the way to further conversa- 
tion, and it was not long before Dr. Harris 
was able to judge intelligently of the ex- 
tent of Miss Belinda's real misfortune. 
The want of proper treatment had left her 
in her present crippled condition, and he 
assured her that improvement was by no 
means impossible for her. 

‘‘ If I could only throw away my crutch, 
I should be so happy,” she exclaimed, with 
tears in her eyes. I can never thank you 
enough. Your coming here has done me 
good already. It is not your first kindness 
to me. I remember when I went to school 
with my dress so patched that some of the 
boys began to laugh at me, and you took 
my part. It was my best dress, and it got 
so torn the night before, mother said I 
better not try to go to school any more 
that winter. But I couldn't bear to give 
up ; so I mended my dress as well as I 


46 Miss Belindas Friends. 

could, and tried not to be ashamed of 
it.” 

Was that the day you spelled us all 
down ? ” 

‘‘ Yes, sir, it was, and after that I for- 
got all about the patches on my dress.” 

Well you might. You were the bright- 
est scholar in all that school. I used to 
wish I could see through a problem in 
arithmetic as quick a^ you could. Did 
you study at home ? ” 

. Oh, yes, indeed. I studied nights 
after the rest were in bed. There was a 
fireplace in my room, and I could burn a 
pitch knot in one corner, so there wouldn’t 
anybody but me see the light. I couldn’t 
get candles, but I could pull the knots out 
of old pine logs, and I kept a good stock 
on hand so I was sure of a light to study 
by. Sometimes I borrowed a book or a 
paper that I read in the same way.” 

Sabra Harris visited Mrs. Fritter and 
then came into Miss Belinda’s room, which 
was so striking a contrast to the one she 
had left, she could not refrain from express- 


Miss Belinda. 


47 


ing the wish that such an example of neat- 
ness might have an effect upon others, 
adding : 

I have always thought this old house 
dingy and gloomy, but you have sunshine 
and brightness.” 

There is plenty of sunshine for us all 
if we only give it a chance to come in,” 
was replied. In all my life I have not 
often lived in a house as good as this, but 
I never saw a place so bad that soap and 
water would not improve it. Teddy has 
ideas of his own, and I think things will 
improve as he grows more independent.” 

“ If his brother was only like him there 
would be some hope for the family.” 

Yes, Miss Harris, but don't blame John 
too much. He had a legacy that Teddy 
didn't have. I have watched him close, 
and I don't doubt he was born with a 
drunkard's appetite. That is a dreadful 
legacy which many a man leaves to his 
children when he don't leave them any- 
thing else but poverty and disgrace. I 
don't blame my brother as I used to, and 


48 Miss Belinda's Friends. 

there was hard drinking in the family be- 
fore my father’s time. I am thankful there 
are none to come after us. Of course you 
believe in inherited tendencies, Dr. Harris.” 

“ Certainly I do. One generation is 
largely responsible for the sins of the next. 
The law of heredity, established in Eden, 
has never been repealed.” 

“ That is another of God’s dealings I 
fought against until I was growing hard 
and bitter. I didn’t see the justice of my 
being made to suffer because somebody 
had done wrong before I was born. I 
don’t see it now, but I know the Lord 
deals tenderly and mercifully with us all, 
even when His ways are darkest. He can 
make allowance for our shortcomings, and 
He helps us when we altogether forget 
Him. I know He does all that ; and more 
than that He has done for me. My bless- 
ings far outnumber my afflictions. But I 
am talking too much of myself. I hope 
you will pardon me.” 

“ We are glad to hear you^talk of your- 
self,” said Dr. Harris. “ It is good some- 


Mzss Belinda, 


49 


times to compare notes of our personal 
experience, and so find that we are not 
alone in our doubts and difficulties.” 

I have often wondered if anybody else 
ever had so many as I have had. I have 
wasted a great deal of time in wishing 
things were different with me, and think- 
ing how they might have been ; but I have 
done with that now. Y ou will wonder that 
such a poor girl as I was should have been 
ambitious.” 

‘‘ If you had not been ambitious, you 
would never have studied as you did. 
And let me remind you that it is not yet 
too late to realize some of your ambitions. 
While our faculties are unimpaired, we are 
never too old to learn, or to work for some 
desired end.” 

I have seen Miss Belinda in a new 
light,” remarked Sabra Harris to her fa- 
ther, as they drove homeward. She will 
never seem to me again as she did when I 
went into her room this morning. What 
a grand and noble woman she might have 
been.” 


4 


50 Miss Belindas Friends. 

“ She is none the less grand and noble 
because circumstances have been against 
her,” replied the doctor. 

“True, father, but under fostering influ- 
ences she would have developed into rarer, 
sweeter womanhood. The fact that she 
was surrounded by people who neither ap- 
preciated nor understood her must have 
been one of her greatest trials, as well as 
one of her greatest hindrances to improve- 
ment.” 


CHAPTER IV. 


CHANCES. 

John Fritter saw them, and so did 
T eddy, but it was too late to retreat ; so 
they could only keep on, hoping to pass 
the group unmolested. Not so, however. 
As they came opposite Reegan’s saloon, 
two young men who had evidently been 
watching for this opportunity, caught John 
by each arm and invited him to take a 
drink with them. 

“ You must come,” they said. “You are 
getting too slow for anything ; and be- 
sides, we can’t do without you any longer. 
Come in and take a drink, for the sake of 
old times, if nothing else. It sha’n’t cost 
you a cent, and we will treat the little one 
into the bargain.” 

“ No, you don’t,” shouted Teddy, in re- 
ply to this offer. “ I won’t touch a drop 


52 Miss Belindas Friends. 

of the horrid stuff for anybody, and John 
sha’n’t either, as long as I am with him. 
Shame on you. What do you want to 
make trouble for ? Haven’t you got any 
mothers, to feel bad about you, and isn’t 
that enough, without making my mother 
feel worse than she does now? We have 
had one drunkard in our family, and that 
is enough. A family can’t afford to have 
more than one.” 

“ There never has been a drunkard in 
our family, that I know of, so there is a 
chance for me,” was responded coarsely. 

“ I should think there was a big chance 
for you to be somebody real grand. My, 
don’t I wish I had such a chance ! You 
wouldn’t catch me doing anything to spoil 
it, I tell you.” 

This speech of Teddy’s, made as it was 
with a frankness and sincerity not to be 
misunderstood, called forth a round of ap- 
plause from those who heard it. 

“Your brother is lucky in having you 
to look after him. I wish I was as well 
off, but nobody cares what I do. So here 


Chances, 


53 


goes for a short life and a merry one''; 
and the speaker turned to enter the sa- 
loon, when Teddy sprang to him, and 
seizing his hand, exclaimed : 

‘T know of somebody who cares what 
you do." 

‘‘Who is it?" asked the young man, 
looking sharply into the eager, upturned 
face. 

“God," said Teddy, softly. “MissSa- 
bra and Miss Belinda say He cares for 
every one of us. They care, too, and they 
are both trying to keep John from drink- 
ing. I promised to help him all I could, 
and I wish I could help you. Can't I ? If 
you wouldn't drink liquor, you would be a 
good deal smarter than John. But I don't 
complain of him. Miss Belinda says we 
must take folks as they are, and make the 
best we can of them. The man who sells 
liquor makes the worst he can of folks ; 
and I wouldn't let him make the worst of 
me, if I was in your place. Come, now, 
go home. I would." 

“ So would I, if I had any home." 


54 


Miss Belindc^s Friends. 


“ Come home with me and talk with 
Miss Belinda. She can talk almost as well 
as Miss Sabra.” 

By this time the crowd had dispersed, 
some going in one direction, and some in 
another ; leaving John Fritter to move on 
at his pleasure. Teddy had been so much 
in earnest, that he had not stopped ta 
think how a guest would be received in his 
poor home ; but walked rapidly on, noth- 
ing doubting, until his new acquaintance 
said : 

“ I won’t go any further, now, but per- 
haps I will call on you in a week or two. 
I am much obliged to you for what you 
have done for me. Keep a sharp lookout 
for your brother. If there were a dozen 
boys like you in town, the saloons would 
find it hard to stand against them.” 

“ There, now, I am afraid he will go 
back to Keegan’s and get drunk,” sighed 
Teddy, looking wistfully to his brother. 

“I guess not,” answered John, “He 
ain’t one of the worst ones.” 

“ Seems to me they are all worst. I 


Chances. 


55 


wonder if I have got to fight liquor as 
long as I live. If I have, I must brace 
up and grow as fast as I can. I wish you 
would brace up and learn to say no.'' 

'‘I can't brace up, Teddy. There ain’t 
any use in my trying. It seems, all the 
time, as though I should tip over and 
never try to stand any more. My head 
swims 'round and 'round, when I’m in the 
mill, and if we weren't so poor, I wouldn't 
go there again. I'm awful slimsey, but I 
can’t help it, Teddy. I wish I was dif- 
ferent." 

You may be sure poor Teddy echoed 
this wish. John had never shown any apti- 
tude for general work ; and it was only in 
the mill that he could earn the wages so 
necessary to the family. If he was to 
leave there, new arrangements must be 
made upon a smaller basis ; and his young 
brother began at once to calculate the ex- 
tent of their resources. 

Their rent was paid a month in advance, 
and he could provide wood for the sum- 
mer. As for food, he could live on the 


56 Miss Belindas Friends, 

coarsest and cheapest, if only his mother 
and John could have what they needed. 

“ I’ve got to earn a lot more of money,” 
he said to Miss Belinda that evening. 
“Everything is coming right on my 
shoulders, and I wish they were ever and 
ever so much broader. John’s head swims 
in the mill, and he hadn’t ought to go there 
another single day. I wish there was some- 
thing we could do together. It is too late 
for a garden ; and if it wasn’t, my old hen 
and chickens would scratch it all to pieces. 
I was afraid Martin Luther would kill the 
chickens, but he don’t touch them.” 

“ He has been too well trained for that. 
If you had a hundred chickens, he wouldn’t 
touch them.” 

“ I wish I had a hundred instead of ten, 
and I wish I had twenty hens. Then I 
could have something to sell, and John 
could take care of them. I’m afraid that is 
all he is good for. It comes pretty hard 
on a fellow like me to have so much to 
look after. I guess I should be discour- 
aged if I had time.” 


Chances. 


57 


Being discouraged would only make 
things worse/' replied Miss Belinda. If 
the Lord gives you a work to do, He will 
give you strength for it. Your mother has 
been sewing straw to-day, and she has 
done very well. So she can soon earn 
some money." 

‘‘Then she will feel better. She can't 
worry so much when she is busy at work ; 
and I guess, between us, we can keep our- 
selves and John, too. Oh, dear! I don't 
know what I should do if I didn't have you 
to talk to. Everything straightens right 
out as soon as I tell you about it, and if 
you will talk to mother about John we will 
try and get along without depending on 
him. I must give up going to school, but 
I will study every minute I can get, and 
sometimes, perhaps, you will help me. 
Now I have got things cleared up, I better 
go home, 'though I would rather stay here. 
Martin Luther, if you knew when you were 
well off, you would stay with your mistress 
instead of mousing 'round so.much." 

“ I am not sure of that," responded Miss 


58 Mzss Belindas Friends. 

Belinda. '^Mousing is his business, and 
even a cat should be of some use in the 
Avorld. He knows that I expect him to do 
his duty.'' 

'^Then I guess you expect me to do 
mine. So please give me a verse to sleep 
on and I will go." 

will give you one I have slept on 
many a night when I v/as in great trouble. 
It is: 'Ask, and ye shall receive.' You 
can trust the promise. It never failed me." 

" Then I will trust it, too, 'though it 
seems to me it might make a difference 
who asked." 

Teddy needed some comforting assur- 
ance, for when he went to his bedroom he 
found John there, quite broken down and 
crying like a child. 

" I've just got to give up," said the elder 
brother. "There ain't any use for me to 
try any longer. Seems as though there 
wasn’t anything to me, only when I've just 
had some liquor. O Teddy, it is dreadful. 
I am glad you don't know ; but our father 
was an awful drunkard, and what Miss 


Chances. 


59 

Harris calls ‘ the curse ’ has come down to 
me/’ 

am afraid that is it; but, Johnny, 
don’t you think you’d feel better if you’d 
take the verses, the same as I do, and say 
them over till you feel God coming near to 
you? ” 

• I don’t think He cares anything about 
me, ’though Miss Harris says He does. 
She don’t know how bad I am.” 

‘‘ God cares for everybody. I know He 
does. The Bible says so. It seemed 
awful queer to me at first when Miss 
Belinda said He knew all about me and 
was watching me to see how I behaved ; 
but I have got used to it now and it helps 
me right along. Shall I tell you my verse 
for to-night ? ” 

'‘Yes,” answered John, almost indiffer- 
ently; but when Teddy repeated it his at- 
tention was aroused. "You ask for me,” 
he then said ; " I don’t know how.” 

It was only within a few days that 
Teddy had prayed for himself, half doubt- 
ingly and in secret. His petitions were, at 


6o 


Mzss Belinda s Friend:s^ 


best, but broken utterances of his needs^ 
and desrires ; yet he could not refuse his 
brother s request. So he knelt by the low 
bed and prayed as best he could, while 
John listened as for his life. 

To the tired boy, who slept soundly, 
morning came too soon. He seemed to 
have lost the night hours ; yet he sprang 
up, ready for whatever the day might 
bring. 

''You and I have got the family on our 
hands,’' he said to his mother, cheerfully, 
as she came into the shed where he was 
feeding his chickens. " It won’t do to 
depend on John. If I can only keep him 
from drinking liquor, it is all I expect.” 

" You can, if you keep right around with 
him,” was heard in response, startling both 
Mrs. Fritter and her son, the latter ex- 
claiming : 

" Who is there, and what do you want ? ” 

"Want to see you,” was replied, and the 
speaker coming forward, Teddy recognized 
him as the stranger in whom he had been 
so much interested the previous evening. 


Chances. 


6i 

'' Good-morning. I am glad to see 
you/’ said the boy. I have been thinking 
about you.” 

“ Glad of it, ’though I don’t suppose you 
thought any good of me. You couldn’t 
very well. But I came to tell you that I 
sha’n’t trouble your brother any more. I 
am going to leave town on the first train 
this morning. I want to thank you, too, 
for what you said to me yesterday ; it did 
me good.” 

‘‘Did it?” 

“Yes, it did, and I want you to write 
your name on a card so I can have it to 
remember you by.” 

“ I ain’t much used to writing, but I will 
write my name as well as I can if you will 
write yours.” 

“Agreed. I have some cards, if you 
have pen and ink.” 

“ I don’t believe we have got a pen fit to 
write with, but Miss Belinda has.” 

“ Miss Belinda ? ” 

“Yes; she is a lame woman that has 
two rooms in the house where we live, and 


62 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


she has the handsomest cat you ever saw. 
Halloa! Martin Luther, there you are. 
Come here and let us get a good look at 
you. There 1 isn’t he a beauty ? '' asked 
Teddy, as Martin jumped down at his feet. 

‘‘ Yes, he is, and his mistress is as good 
as he is handsome,'' was replied. 

‘‘ Why, did you ever see her ? " 

‘‘Yes, and I should like to see her 
again." 

“You can. She gets up real early in 
the morning. Likely she is reading her 
Bible this minute. That is what makes 
her so good. Come right in with me." 

Mrs. Fritter left the shed the moment 
she saw a strange face, but she had hardly 
entered her kitchen when Teddy led the 
way to Miss Belinda's room. A rap on 
the door was answered with the usual 
“ Come," and the next moment there was 
a glad exclamation : 

“ Why, Eddie Gorman, I am so happy 
to see you ! Come nearer, so I can shake 
hands with you. I hope you have been a 
good boy since I saw you before." 


Chances. 


63 


“ I have been a very bad boy, Miss Be- 
linda — so bad that I am ashamed to look 
you in your face.” 

“ I am sorry for that, but your mother’s 
boy is • always welcome to my home. I 
have been thinking about you this very 
morning, and wishing you would come in 
and take breakfast with me, just as you 
used to.” 

“ I never had any other breakfasts half 
so good as those were.” 

“ That was because you had a good 
appetite. My breakfasts then were very 
plain.” 

“ They did not seem so to me. O Miss 
Belinda, if you had stayed in the neighbor- 
hood, I shouldn’t have made my mother so 
much trouble.” 

“ Where is your mother, Eddie ? ” 

“ In the poorhouse.” 

“In the poorhouse! Your mother in 
the poorhouse 1 I would share my last 
crust with her rather than have her go 
there. It don’t seem possible she should 
ever come to that.” 


64 Miss Belinda! s Friends. 

“ I know it, and she won’t be there much 
longer anyway. I am going to take care 
of her. I can earn enough to do it. I lost 
my place because I drank so much beer ; 
but now I have done with beer, I can get 
the place back, and mother shall have a 
good home. There, Miss Belinda, I have 
told you the worst of it all at once. I 
didn’t mean to, but seeing you I couldn’t 
help it.” 

Miss Belinda made little reply to this, 
but as they sat at the table, on which she 
spread a hasty breakfast, her guest told 
her of his meeting with Teddy and the 
effect of the boy’s words upon him. Then 
his old friend added her warnings and 
advice, so enforcing the lesson already 
learned. 

A little later, cards were exchanged as 
tokens of remembrance, and Eddie Gor- 
man went his way. 


CHAPTER V. 


JANIE REEGAN. 

Teacher; teacher/’ 

Sabra Harris turned at sound of the 
appealing voice, which she recognized as 
that of Janie Reegan. 

''Good-morning, Janie,” she said, stop- 
ping for the child, who was hastening to 
overtake her. " Why, what is the matter ? ” 
she asked, quickly, as she caught sight of 
a little tear-stained face under a broad- 
brimmed hat. 

" Oh, dear ! I feel so bad, it seems as 
though I couldn’t tell you,” sobbed Janie. 
" I can’t go to Sunday-school any more, 
and father won’t let me say a word about 
it, either. It is because you called Johnny 
Fritter out of the saloon, and he don’t go 
there any more. Some of the others that 
used to go don’t go now, and I am real 

5 (^5) 


66 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


glad of it. I wish there wouldn’t anybody 
ever go in there again, but ” 

Here the child could say no more. 
Burying her face in her hands, she wept 
aloud until her grief had somewhat spent 
itself. 

“That isn’t all, either,” she continued, 
when she could control her voice. “ Father 
told mother to put every one of my tem- 
perance papers in the stove, and she did. 
But, teacher, there wasn’t a single spark 
of fire in the stove, and Micky McGill 
pulled them all out and carried them home. 
Mother knew father meant she should burn 
the papers, but Micky wanted them, and 
they are all gone from me, just the same 
as though they were burned.” 

“ Can Micky read them ? ” 

■“ Oh, yes, teacher ; he can read as well 
as I can. He is real strong temperance, 
too. His father buys drink of my father, 
but Micky knows how wicked it is. He 
wants to go to Sunday-school, but his 
father won’t let him. Perhaps he can’t 
keep the papers, but if he can’t he is going 


Janie Reegan, 


67 


to give them to Teddy Fritter. I told him 
perhaps you would give Teddy a paper 
every month, as long as I can’t have one.’’ 

''I shall be very glad to do so, Janie.” 

Oh, thank you, teacher ; Micky will be 
so glad, and the paper will do lots of good. 
Now I must run home just as fast as I can. 
Father would scold me awful if he knew I 
told you. You won’t forget me, teacher, 
will you ? ” 

^^No, Janie, I shall think of you and 
pray for you every day ; and if you are 
kind and pleasant at home, I presume your 
father will allow you to come to Sunday- 
school again by and by.” 

Oh, if he only would, I would be so 
good. Mother feels almost as bad as I do, 
and little Pat says when he grows up to be 
a man he shall go to Sunday-school all the 
time, and he won’t have any teacher but 
you.” 

At thought of little Pat’s loyalty, Janie 
smiled, and while in this happy mood she 
parted from the teacher, who was to her the 
embodiment of all things pure and lovely. 


68 


Miss Belindas Friends, 


Sabra Harris was hardly surprised at 
what she had heard; yet if something 
had been lost, something, also, had been 
gained. Teddy Fritter had told her that 
Reegan sold less liquor, without the oppo- 
site saloon taking any of his customers. 

Teddy was on the alert for temperance 
news, rejoicing whenever he could make a 
favorable report ; yet thus far he had 
declined all invitations to attend Sunday- 
school. He could not dress as other boys 
dressed, and he was too independent to 
accept charity from any one. Since he 
became acquainted with Miss Belinda his 
ideas of many things had materially 
changed, but he was still decided to earn 
his own clothes as well as his own food. 

He was cutting wood when he saw Miss 
Harris, and without waiting for her to come 
to him, he threw down his hatchet and ran 
to meet her. 

I don’t know what we are going to do 
with John,” he said, after replying to her 
^Good-morning^ and answering several 
questions asked by her. ‘Hf I had a lot 


Janie Reegan. 


69 


of money I would hire your father to come 
every day and doctor him ; but I haven’t 
got only a quarter and our flour is almost 
gone. We are saving Johnny’s money to 
pay rent. I couldn’t get anything to do 
to-day, so I went down to the mill for some 
sidings. I can pay for them in work, and 
every little helps.” 

Indeed it does, Teddy, and a boy as 
willing to work as you are will always find 
some way to help.” 

I must find a way, because there isn’t 
anybody else, only mother. Miss Belinda 
tells her how to make the most of every- 
thing, so we get along a good deal better 
than we used To. But, Miss Harris, I do 
wish you would tell mother to look on the 
bright side. It is awfully discouraging to 
me to have her cry and take on so.” 

‘‘ I will see what I can do,” was replied; 
and, encouraged by this, Teddy went back 
to his work with a lighter heart. 

‘‘O Miss Harris, I was just wishing you 
would come,” exclaimed Mrs. Fritter. I 
am clear down again, and Johnny has given 


70 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


up. If Johnny can’t work, we can’t live. 
Teddy tries to make me think we can, but 
what can he and I do, with Johnny here in 
the house ? ” 

You can do better than if he worked 
every day and spent his evenings in Kee- 
gan’s saloon.” 

That is what Miss Belinda says ; but 
if we manage to get through this summer, 
what can we do next winter ? ” 

It was useless to remonstrate with this 
woman ; so, after a short call, during which 
Sabra Harris endeavored to turn attention 
to Teddy and his cheerful courage, she 
went to Miss Belinda, who greeted her 
brightly and cordially. 

'' This has been to me a wonderfully 
happy morning,” said her hostess. I slept 
better last night than I have any night 
before since I was hurt, and this morning 
I could almost walk without my crutches. 
I have to thank your father for that.” 

He will be very glad to hear you are 
improving. I wish Mrs. Fritter would look 
on the bright side of things as you do.” 


Janie Reegan, 71 

I wish so, too, but I don't know as she 
can. She has looked on the dark side so 
long, it is hard for her to change. She did 
better until John broke down; but you 
know she is one of the weak ones.” 

'' I know she is, Miss Belinda, and John 
is still weaker.” 

"^You may well say that. It would 
make your heart ache to see how he clings 
to Teddy, brave little fellow, working away 
from morning till night at whatever his 
hands find to do. He says he is going to 
church and Sunday-school just as soon as 
he can save the money to buy a decent 
suit of clothes. Reegan calls him ' Teddy, 
the priest.' I suppose you know there is 
trouble there ? ” 

‘‘ I have seen Janie this morning.” 

Poor child, she is having a hard time. 
Her father blames you and her for what he 
calls. his bad luck. Your going to the 
saloon and the talk there was about it, 
made some young men stop and 'think. 
Have you seen the one who came home 
with John ? '' 


72 


Miss Belinda s Friends. 


"No, I have not.” 

" He was here last evening, looking at 
the vacant rooms in this house. It was 
rather late when he came, and I think 
they had all gone to bed in the other part 
of the house ; so they know nothing about 
it.” 

" Has he kept his promise not to drink 
any kind of liquor?” 

" He said he had, and I didn’t see any 
reason to doubt his word. He said he had 
been at work for Mr. Ryeland, a carpenter, 
on a job about three miles from the village. 
Perhaps you know Mr. Ryeland ? ” 

" I do. He is a member of our church, 
and he is a thoroughly good man. He 
has lately become interested in temperance, 
because of the dissipation of one of his 
nephews, so he will have the right influ- 
ence over Henry Bedlow.” 

“ I am glad to hear that. He ought to 
work for a man who is interested in tem- 
perance. So many men speak of drinking 
liquor, as though it was a matter of no par- 
ticular consequence anyway.” 


Janie Reegan, 


73 


I know it, Miss Belinda; and women 
speak in the same way, ridiculing in a mild 
way any one who makes a serious business 
of temperance work/’ 

‘‘ Such men and women throw their in- 
fluence all on the wrong side. Miss Har- 
ris, I don’t envy you your youth or your 
education. I don’t envy you your pleasant 
home or any of your possessions, but I 
can’t help wishing, sometimes, that I had 
as many advantages for doing good as you 
have.” 

Why, Miss Belinda, I never expect to 
do as much good in the world as you have 
done and will do. You have done what 
came in your way, but I am beginning to 
falter already. I think I can see what a 
girl, situated as I am, could do in a place 
like this.” 

Then, Miss Harris, I am sure you will 
do it.” 

I am ashamed to confess that I shrink 
from it.” 

If you could realize, as I do, the 
horrors of liquor-drinking, you would not 


74 Jlfzss Belindas Friends. 

shrink from doing all in your power to 
prevent it. It has a bad look to see men 
lounging around places where liquor is 
sold, spending time and money for what 
will ruin them, soul and body ; but such as 
you have no idea how terrible it is for the 
women and children belonging to them, 
when these men go home. You think you 
couldn't bear it ; but women as delicate as 
you are, bear it year after year. I don't 
say it was as hard for me to live as I did 
at your age as it would be for you ; but 
sometimes I was wicked enough to almost 
wish I could die and get away from it." 

I don't wonder. I wish I was as brave 
as you are. Miss Belinda." 

Wish you were as brave as Teddy 
Fritter. He doesn't know how he is to get 
enough to eat from one day to another, 
but he expects to earn it in some way; 
and now he has another plan he will 
consult you about as soon as it is all clear 
in his own mind. It won't do for me to 
tell you what it is, and perhaps I ought not 


Janie Reegan, 75 

to have said what I have ; but I hope you 
will be willing to help him.’' 

‘‘ I will help him all I can.” 

That will be enough. Miss Harris, 
did you ever think that somebody ought 
to get the children together and talk to 
them about the different kinds of liquors, 
so they will know what it is that makes so 
much trouble ? They ought to know what 
liquor costs, in dollars and cents ; and 
what it costs in misery, too, as far as they 
can without learning by experience.” 

I have thought of it. When I was away 
last winter I attended some children’s tem- 
perance meetings, and I was surprised at 
what I saw and heard. The meetings 
were conducted entirely by girls and boys 
under fifteen years of age, and they knew 
more about the effects of alcohol than I did. 
Nearly every one had some item of interest 
to relate, and at one of the meetings two 
boys came in for the first time who had 
been found drunk back of a low saloon. 
The saloon-keeper hired them to do a job 
of work and paid them in the vilest kind of 


76 Miss Belindas Friends. 

liquor. Then he drove them out, to freeze 
or take care of themselves as best they 
could.” 

“ That is like a liquor-seller. He never 
misses a chance to gain a customer, and 
nothing makes him so angry as to have 
anybody try to reform a drunkard or save 
the boys from becoming drunkards. If 
Christians were only as anxious to do 
good, as such men are to do evil, the world 
would soon be converted.” 

“ It certainly would. Christians are 
recreant to their duty, leaving sin unre- 
buked and sinners unwarned. I needed 
to be reminded of my duty, and I thank 
you for setting it plain before me. I came 
over this morning to ask you what can be 
done for John Fritter.” 

“ I don’t see anything to be done for 
him, except to feed and clothe him and let 
him do as he pleases. He can be trusted 
with Teddy, as far as liquor is concerned ; 
but I think he will never get much above 
where he is now. It is dreadful* for him to 
live and be always craving some kind of 


Janie Reegan. 77 

strong drink ; and it would be more dread- 
ful for him if he had the drink.” 

“ Why, Miss Belinda, do you believe he 
will always have that craving ? ” 

“ I don’t know. I have heard of such 
instances, and — and — I believe I have 
seen them.” 


CHAPTER VI. 


teddy's temperance society. 

You are as like grandmother as a per- 
son no older than you are can be," remarked 
Elva Harris to her sister, who was still 
loyal to the motto involving much of act- 
ual self-denial and labor. If you once 
make up your mind, it is as unalterable as 
the laws of the Medes and Persians." 

‘‘ I am glad to be like grandmother," re- 
plied Sabra; adding: I am sorry to dis- 
appoint you, but I should be more sorry 
to disappoint Teddy." 

'' I don't believe it would make any dif- 
ference with him, if you should go to- 
morrow evening instead of this evening. 
The party at Mr. West's can not be post- 
poned ; and as the reporters say, it will be 
the social event of the season. Do be 
reasonable for once, Sabra, and come with 

(7S) 


Teddy s Temperance Society. 79 

me. The Wests count on you for music, 
and will be greatly disappointed if you fail 
them." 

'T told Susan I had a previous engage- 
ment." 

I told her I thought you could be in- 
duced to set that aside. She said the 
evening would be quite spoiled for Angus 
if you were not there. At any rate, you 
might leave Teddy, after making him a 
short call, and then come to Mr. West's." 

‘‘ I can not promise to do even that," 
was responded, and Elva said no more in 
regard to the evening, until an hour later, 
when she asked : 

Do you expect to organize a temper- 
ance society, with Teddy Fritter for pres- 
ident ? " 

'' I don't know who will be president, 
but I hope to help organize a temperance 
society of some kind." 

O Sabra, don't. Susan West says 
everybody is talking of what you have 
done already; and if any other girl had 
done it, she would be cut at once. But 


8o 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


you are such a favorite it will be over- 
looked if you stop now/' 

I shall not stop now.” 

‘‘ Then But it is of no use to talk. I 

suppose you care for neither the Wests, 
the Lathams, or the Darnleys.” 

‘‘ In one way I care for them all. They 
are pleasant people to meet, but not one 
of them has any regard for religion. Not 
one of them, either, has any regard for 
what I consider temperance principles. 
They believe in wine and champagne, and 
the young men of the families would con- 
sider it no disgrace to be seen in a state 
of positive exhilaration from the use of 
their favorite drinks. Angus West sneers 
at what he calls the folly of temperance 
fanatics.” 

'‘That must be a mistake, Sabra. He 
is too much of a gentleman to sneer at any 
one. He could hardly help being a gen- 
tleman, with his handsome face, fine fig- 
ure, and independent fortune.” 

" No one of these qualifications would 
make him a gentleman.” 


Teddy s Temperance Society. 8i 

We won't discuss him any further. 
You know Ruth Eastwood and her broth- 
er are invited this evening, and it must be 
out of regard to you ; you and Ruth are 
so intimate. She will feel quite like a 
stranger, if you are not there." 

All which, however, made no change in 
the decision of Sabra Harris. Promptly 
at half-past seven she opened the door to 
Miss Belinda's room, where six boys were 
waiting to receive her. There were Ted- 
dy Fritter, Micky McGill, Will Dunster, 
Fred Lawrence, Barney Burns, and last, 
as well as least, Micky’s little brother 
Oney. 

'' We want to be a temperance society, 
and want you to be at the head of it," 
said Teddy. '' We all know what a promise 
means, and we know how to keep one, 
after it is made." 

'' Yes, we do," piped in Oney, who had 
been thoroughly instructed in regard to 
the object of this meeting. 

''We are going to ask girls to come in 
as soon as we get started," added Micky 
6 


82 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


loftily, nothing troubled by the fact that 
his trousers were far too short, while the 
sleeves of his shirt were several inches too 
long. 

His face was radiant ; his eyes sparkled, 
and his slight form fairly quivered with 
the intensity of his emotion, as he consid- 
ered the importance of the occasion. Ted- 
dy had told him it would help to make a 
man of him, and there was nothing he de- 
sired so much as to be a man. 

Although Teddy was very mysterious 
in giving his invitation, Sabra Harris had 
expected something of this kind, and was 
therefore prepared. She had taken with 
her a copy of the constitution and by-laws 
of the society whose meetings she had 
attended the previous winter. These she 
read ; and after some questions had been 
asked and answered, they were pro- 
nounced satisfactory. 

She then described the meetings ; tell- 
ing the boys that, while it was easy to be- 
gin, it would require hard work to keep 
up the interest. Thhy wished Miss Harris 


Teddy s Temperance Society. 83 

to act as president; but as she declined, 
Teddy Fritter accepted the office, upon 
condition that she would help them in 
every way possible. 

Then there was a pledge to be signed ; 
and if the signatures lacked distinctness, 
each boy was ready to swear to his own, 
should there be any question in regard to 
them. It was voted to continue the meet- 
ings but an hour; so at half-past eight 
Miss Harris was left alone. Yet not for 
long. Presently, as Miss Belinda came 
into the room, she exclaimed : 

Without crutches ! ” 

Without crutches ! was repeated joy- 
ously. have not used them for two 

days, and I am so happy over it, it almost 
seems as though I could fly.” 

‘'We will all rejoice with you. Teddy 
said he could tell me some good news, but 
he thought he had better leave it to you.” 

“ He always has good news to tell, if it 
is nothing more than that he is alive. He 
worked hard to get the boys together this 
evening, and there are others he will try 


84 Miss Belinda s Friends, 

for. He will be likely to succeed, too. 
Children can be easily interested in tem- 
perance, and their enthusiasm will almost 
always spread to the older people. McGill 
is a hard drinker, but Micky expects to re- 
form him, and I hope the boy will not be 
disappointed. Of course, Teddy told me 
this, and I suppose Micky told him. I am 
glad he could come here this evening.” 

'' I am glad /could come. Miss Belinda.” 

‘‘ You could hardly refuse, after being in- 
vited to come to something very important. 
I think it was a serious matter with Teddy 
to decide what words he should use in 
asking you. I heard him talking to Martin 
Luther about it several times.” 

'' Martin Luther is. one of his particular 
friends.” 

'' Yes, Miss Harris, but Martin is on 
more intimate terms with John. When 
Teddy is away, Martin seems to feel that 
he is responsible for John.” 

‘'Poor John! Father says he sees no 
chance for him to improve. It sometimes 
seems to me that it would be a mercy for 


Teddy s Temperance Society. 85 

him to die now, rather than live to suffer, 
as I suppose he must.” 

'' If his life is prolonged, it will be for 
some purpose. He may have a work to 
do in the world which no one else can do 
as well, or there may be others who need 
to learn a lesson from him. It may be 
that Teddy needs him, as I am very sure 
he needs Teddy.” 

It may be that / need him. Miss 
Belinda. My first attempt at temperance 
work was made with him. He did me a 
favor the first time I ever saw him, and 
when I found him in trouble I tried to help 
him. Do you know that he is fond of 
flowers ? ” 

I have thought so, although they have 
none in the garden or in the house.” 

But he knows the haunts of the wild 
flowers. I was out botanizing one day 
when I saw a flower on a cliff above me, 
and while looking around for some way to 
reach it, I caught sight of John Fritter, 
who was looking at the same flower, and 
who brought it to me as carefully as if he 


86 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


feared to hurt it. He was very shy, but I 
succeeded in getting him to talk a little ; 
and ignorant as he was of books, I found 
he could teach me a great deal in regard 
to wild flowers.'’ 

'' If he loves flowers and knows so much 
of them, that is just where we must be- 
gin with him. He must have seeds and 
slips, and boxes to plant them in. Flowers 
will do well in the south windows of his 
mother s kitchen.” 

So they will. Miss Belinda. I wonder 
I never thought of that before. I will fur- 
nish him with whatever he needs for the 
cultivation of house plants, and I will ofler 
him some inducements to bring me wild 
flowers.” 

Punctually at nine o’clock. Dr. Harris 
called for his daughter, stopping no longer 
than was necessary to rejoice over the suc- 
cess of the treatment he had prescribed for 
his old friend. 

'' I have just heard that you declined an 
invitation to Mr. West’s for this evening,” 
he said, as he drove away from the house. 


Teddy s Temperance Society, 87 

Your mother told me about it, and I wish 
Elva had not cared to go. I am very sorry 
David Eastwood was invited there. Angus 
West is not a safe companion for him.” 

‘‘ He has too much principle to be influ- 
enced to do wrong,” answered Sabra. 

He has more than the average young 
men have, but his principles have not yet 
been put to a severe test He has had to 
work his way so far ; and here, at home, 
there have not been many temptations for 
one like him. But there has come into our 
society a new element, which can not fail to 
have a strong influence upon some of our 
young people. There is a laxness in re- 
ligious principle, and an utter want of any- 
thing like true temperance principle. I 
fear it will work us evil.” 

It must be combated, father, and I 
have faith to believe it will be. The ques- 
tion with me is. What ought I to do t ” 

All that you can, my daughter. It is 
time for every Christian woman, young or 
old, to throw her whole influence against 
the drinking habits of what is called 


88 


Miss Belinda! s Friends. 


society, as well as against absolute drunk- 
enness. It is no worse for some to drink 
whiskey in Reegan’s saloon than for others 
to drink wine and champagne in a well- 
furnished apartment, called ‘ the smoking- 
room.’ ” 

“ Of course it is not ; but please, father, 
what has stirred the waters this evening ? ” 

“ Not an angel, Sabra. I have been 
called to prescribe for a young man who 
has been under the influence of one of our 
young gentlemen for the last few weeks, 
and who is now paying dear for what some 
would consider elegant companionship. I 
don’t wish to call any names, but we must 
bestir ourselves to avert the threatened 
danger. Life is something more than a 
farce, and Christian profession should be 
something more than a mere formality.” 

“ But, father, it is often hard to know 
what is one’s duty.” 

“ When there is any question, be sure to 
lean on the safe side. We are too apt to 
throw the responsibility on others, so that 
in the end things are left to take their own 


Teddys Temperance Society. 89 

course. I have done that too much my- 
self, but I hope to do better in future. 
Now tell me what important business 
Teddy had on hand this evening.” 

In response to this, Sabra Harris gave 
her father a report of what had transpired, 
adding : 

‘‘Teddy wants the society to be man- 
aged the same as what he calls ‘ a grown- 
up society.’ Some one remarked to him, 
in a careless way, that a dozen boys like him 
could do a good deal toward shutting up 
the saloons in town ; and he is looking for 
the dozen boys.” 

“ I hope he may find them. A dozen 
wide-awake boys, thoroughly in earnest on 
the temperance question, could do a great 
work ; but a dozen young ladies, fully alive 
to the needs of the hour, ^nd willing to 
come out boldly, yet modestly, as the de- 
fenders and preservers of our homes, could 
do an almost infinitely greater work.” 

“ Father, can you think of a dozen young 
ladies in this town who would do that ” 


90 


Miss Belinda! s Friends. 


“ There ought to be as many as that. 
There must be as many who are members 
of our churches, and temperance work is 
true church work.” 


CHAPTER VII. 


THE FIRST GLASS OF WINE. 

It was plain to Sabra Harris that the 
evening had not been what her sister an- 
ticipated; yet she asked no questions. To 
her mother she gave a detailed account 
of what had transpired in Miss Belinda’s 
room ; but it was not until Ruth Eastwood 
was seen coming down the street, that 
Elva made any allusion to the evening. 
She then said hastily, and with evident re- 
luctance : 

“ Ruth will have a long story to tell 
you ; and I may as well acknowledge, first 
as last, that if I had known beforehand 
what would happen, I should not have gone 
to Mr. West’s. I make no pretension to 
any extra goodness, but I don’t believe in 
tempting people to do what you know 
their consciences will condemn.” 

(91) 


92 Miss Belmdas Friends, 

With these words, she left the room 
which Ruth Eastwood soon entered ; the 
troubled face of the latter calling forth 
from her friend the exclamation : 

‘'Why, Ruth, what has happened?'' 

“Almost the worst which could hap- 
pen," was replied, with a burst of tears. 

“ I hope not so bad as that," responded 
Sabra. 

“ It may prove to be. It is the first step 
which costs, and the first glass which leads 
to drunkenness. Would you believe it, Sa- 
bra, my brother drank his first glass of 
wine last evening. I wish you had been 
there. I am sure he would not have done 
it in your presence." 

“ Did others drink ? " asked Sabra Har- 
ris, too much surprised to notice the com- 
pliment of her friend. 

“ I think every one, except myself, tasted 
of wine. Some drank, as a matter of 
course, while others followed their ex- 
ample from a false sense of courtesy, or 
the want of courage to make themselves 
conspicuous by refusing. Susan West in- 


The First Glass of Wine. 


93 


sisted upon David’s drinking with her ; 
and if you had seen her as she waited for 
him to take the glass from her hand, you 
would hardly wonder that he yielded. I 
never saw her when she looked half so 

charming. She was like a beautiful 

But I will not say it. Calling hard names 
will not undo the evil she has done.’' 

'' It may be you overrate the evil. Be- 
cause your brother has once tasted of wine, 
it is no reason why he should taste again.” 

But, Sabra, the curse is on our fam- 
ily.” 

These words were whispered hoarsely ; 
and in the same whisper Ruth Eastwood 
continued : 

I have heard father say that no one of 
our name can drink moderately. The ap- 
petite, once aroused, will sweep everything 
before it.” 

‘‘ Does David know it ? ” 

‘‘Yes, but he must have forgotten it 
last evening.” 

“ What does he say about it this morn- 
ing ? ” 


94 Mzss Belindas Friends, 

Nothing ; and I could not make up my 
mind to mention it. What shall I do ? ” 

I can not tell you/' answered Sabra 
Harris ; thinking not only of David East- 
wood, but of others ; her own sister among 
the number. 

I can not go to mother, and father is 
out of town. He will not be at home for 
a week. What would you do if David was 
your brother ? " 

I will tell you what I think I should 
do. I think I should entreat him to lis- 
ten to me, until he would allow me to say 
what I pleased to him; and then I should 
try to have him promise never to taste 
another drop of intoxicating drink as long 
as he lives. I am sure he would not break 
a promise." 

‘'No; he would not do that. It must 
be that he regrets what he has done, but 
he may not be willing to acknowledge it, 
and I am not willing to risk displeasing 
him." 

“ Then leave it to your mother. She has 
a great influence over him, and perhaps 


The First Glass of Wine, 95 

she will know, better than you, how to ap- 
proach him/' 

‘‘ If she was our own mother, it would 
be different. If I should tell her what fa- 
ther has said, I might be giving her an 
item of our family history he would prefer 
to keep from her. She is very pronounced 
in her ideas of total abstinence ; and I have 
heard her say, more than once, that noth- 
ing could induce her to marry a man who 
was not in sympathy with her on temper- 
ance and religion.” 

So much the better for you, Ruth. I 
am very sorry for you, and I would do 
anything in my power to help you, but 
your mother can do what I can not.” 

The whole matter wearied Sabra Har- 
ris. For once, she wished her friend away, 
so that she could take counsel with herself 
David Eastwood's lack of firmness revealed 
him to her in a new light. His sister s 
next remark closed with a question she 
found it difficult to answer. 

‘‘ If any one in the world can influence 
David, you can. Y ou know that, don't you ? ” 


96 Miss Belindas Friends. 

'' I know we have been good friends, 
and I hope we shall remain so,’’ she re- 
plied after some delay. 

'‘Why, Sabra, I supposed you knew he 
cares more for your favor and friendship, 
than for that of any one else in the world. 
\i you fail me, I shall be discouraged.” 

"The more I think of it, the more I 
think you should go to your mother. She 
will be likely to hear that wine was drank 
at Mr. West’s, even if you do not tell her.” 

" I wish she would hear of it before I go 
home, and speak to me about it ; although 
I should hardly know what to say to her 
then.” 

"You must remember that she is a 
Christian, Ruth, and a Christian can be 
trusted in any emergency. The Wests 
make no pretensions to religion.” 

" I know it. I wish they had not invited us 
to their house last evening. Elva said you 
were detained by a previous engagement.” 

Sabra Harris, to whom a change in the 
subject of conversation was a great relief, 
proceeded to give a graphic description of 


The First Glass of Wine, 97 

Teddy Fritter's temperance society, as it 
was then and as he hoped it would be in 
the future. She repeated, also, what her 
father had said in regard to the influence 
of twelve young ladies banded together for 
temperance work. 

Count me one of the twelve, and let us 
organize this very week," said Ruth East- 
wood. We ought not to be behind the 
boys. Will Elva join us " 

'' I think so. I certainly hope so," re- 
plied Sabra. 

'' I know we can count on Lucy Harvey 
and Annis Strong. They will make five, 
and — why, Sabra, before mother was mar- 
ried to father she was president of a ladies' 
temperance society." 

‘‘ Then she will be a good president for 
us, and we shall feel more confidence if 
we have some older ladies enlisted with us. 
Mother will join. I can speak for her, and 
we can organize with seven members, if 
we can have no more." 

‘‘ When shall we organize ? " 

We must think about that. I will talk 


7 


98 Miss Belindas Friends. 

the matter up here at home, and you talk 
with your mother about it. After the 
prayer-meeting this evening we will com- 
pare notes.” 

“ That will be a good way to do. I be- 
gin to feel better. This morning it seemed 
as though the whole world was under a 
cloud ; but you always help me to look on 
the bright side. When I heard of your 
going into Reegan’s saloon for John Frit- 
ter, I wished I had courage to do such a 
thing. David said there wasn’t another 
girl in town who would have done it. 

“It had a great influence. Some one 
told father that Reegan said your call had 
cost him fifty dollars every week since you 
made it. His customers are, most of them, 
men who work hard for their living ; but 
he makes such profits on what he sells, 
that the loss of a few makes a very decided 
difference with him.” 

“ I trust his loss has been gain to others.” 

“ Certainly it has, Sabra. I wish I 
could see Miss Belinda you have told me 
so much about.” 


The First Glass of Wine, 99 

I will take you to see her, and it has 
just occurred to me that I will ask her to 
join our temperance society. She will be a 
great addition, as well as a positive inspira- 
tion. Mrs. Ryeland, too ; she is so grieved 
at the disgrace of their favorite nephew that 
she will be ready to lend us her influence.’' 

One name suggested another until, be- 
fore the young ladies separated, they had 
•quite a long list of those for whose co- 
operation they hoped. 

When Ruth Eastwood reached home, 
she found there a neighbor who was never 
known to miss an opportunity to carry evil 
tidings wherever they would be most iTn- 
welcome. 

'' Is that woman to be believed ? ” asked 
Mrs. Eastwood, as soon as the door was 
closed behind her. 

I should not like to accuse her of tell- 
ing a falsehood,” was replied. 

“ I hope what she has just told me was 
a falsehood. She said every young man 
at Mr. West’s, last evening, drank so much 
wine as to be actually intoxicated.” 


lOO Miss Belindas Friends. 

That is not true, mother, although 
every young man there drank wine.” 

Did David drink wine ? ” 

Yes, mother ; it was the first time.” 
Pray God it may be the last. It must 
be the last. Your father has told me that 
it is not safe for any one of his name to 
tamper with any kind of alcoholic drink. 
Does David know that ? ” 

Yes, mother, he does.” 

‘'Then may God pity and forgive him, 
as I shall try to. It would kill your father 
if David should go wrong, and I could 
hardly bear it. I never thought to suffer 
in that way. I must talk with David about 
it. How could he do so ?” 

For answer to this, Ruth told their 
mother how he had been tempted ; apolo- 
gizing for him as best she could. 

" I can see that it would have been hard 

for him to refuse, but ” 

At this moment Mrs. Eastwood was in- 
terrupted by the appearance of David, who 
opened the sitting-room door, where, see- 
ing his mother and sister, he was about to 
retreat, when the former said : 


The First Glass of Wine, loi 

If you can give me half an hour of 
your time, I should like to discuss another 
plan with you.” 

So many plans had been discussed by 
these two, that the young man, not sus- 
pecting what followed, assured his mother 
that he was at her service for as long a 
time as she might desire his company. 
Ruth made an excuse for leaving them, 
and in her chamber awaited anxiously the 
result of the interview. At the end of two 
hours, feeling sure that her presence would 
not be considered an intrusion, she went 
below stairs, where she Was greeted cor- 
dially. 

‘'David agrees with me, and I think we 
shall be able to carry out our plans to the 
entire satisfaction of all concerned,” re- 
marked Mrs. Eastwood, with a smile. 

“ I am very glad,” answered Ruth. 
Then, turning to her brother, she said : 
“Mother’s plans are always so wise, the 
best thing we can do is to agree with 
them.” 

“Amen, as Elder Harbro says. You 


102 


Miss Belinda s Friends. 


know as well as I do, sister, that when a 
fellow has made a fool of himself, he doesn’t 
want to say much about it ; but I can 
promise you that, while mother lives, she 
will never have occasion to talk to me 
again as she has this morning. If some 
young ladies were only as active in recruit- 
ing for the teetotal ranks as others are in 
their efforts to make wine-drinking popular 
here in our town, they might accomplish 
more good than they can quite realize. 

Reegan is not the worst man among 
us. A young man could be persuaded to 
enter a well-furnished club-room, who 
would consider himself forever disgraced 
should he once be seen in a low drinking- 
saloon.” 

‘‘ Is there such a club-room in the vil- 
lage ? ” 

‘‘ One will be opened this evening.” 

'' Do you belong to the club 'i ” 

‘'I do not, but I have been invited to 
the opening of their room; and I presume 
it is expected that I will so far appreciate 
the honor thus done me, as to pay my 


The First Glass of Wine, 103 

dues and become one of the privileged 
order/’ 

Don’t do it, brother.” 

'' Of course I shall not, after what I 
have promised mother ; but you young 
ladies better set up an opposition as soon 
as may be.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


THE OPENING OF THE CLUB-ROOM, 

Two young men usually present at the 
prayer-meeting were absent from their ac- 
customed places. They did not profess to 
be Christians ; but having been trained to 
respect and reverence religion, they will- 
ingly lent their aid to the service of song ; 
thus adding much to the general interest 
of all religious meetings. 

Sabra Harris, who presided at the organ, 
was quite able to lead the singing ; yet she 
missed the strong tenor voices which had 
so long accompanied her own. Even the 
clergyman seemed under some depressing 
influence ; so that it was with a sigh of re- 
lief he left the platform and came down 
among his people when the meeting had 
closed. 

“ Miss Sabra, something must be done, 
(104) 


The Opening of ihe Club- Room. 105 

and I shall depend upon you to do it in 
the best way,” he said as he passed her, 
while hastening to speak with her father 
and mother, 

“ Arthur and William must have gone 
to the club-room,” remarked Ruth East- 
wood a moment later. 

“ I am afraid so,” was replied. “ Father 
told us about the club-roorn, and said there 
was almost sure to be wine-drinking there. 
It is just as sure, too, that those who 
started the club will do all in their power 
to make it popular, and wine-drinking with 
it. Something must be done to counter- 
act their influence, and create a strong 
temperance sentiment in our village, or the 
young men and boys will be ruined.” 

“ What of the young women and girls ? ” 

“They will suffer too. The whole com- 
munity will suffer. It must not be, Ruth.” 

“ That is what mother says. She is 
ready to tell us what she knows about the 
work of women’s temperance societies, 
and she will do everything she can in every 
way. She thought we better get together 


io6 Miss Belindas Friends. 

as many as we can who are interested, and 
make some plans for work. Then we 
could try and enlist others. I told her 
about Miss Belinda, and she said we must 
certainly have her present.” 

“Then we must go to Miss Belinda’s 
room. She will be glad to see us, and her 
room is so neat and clean, we shall not 
mind its plainness. Mother will like to go 
there, and I am sure your mother will 
find Miss Belinda a pleasant acquaint- 
ance.” 

These friends lingered a little, then 
moved on to join Mrs. Harris, whose hus- 
band had been summoned from her side. 
David Eastwood had waited outside for 
his sister, and presently they all walked on 
together, but it was not until they reached 
the home of Dr. Harris, that any allusion 
was made to temperance work. 

“You can not begin too soon; and as 
far as I am concerned, I wish you had be- 
gun several weeks ago,” said David East- 
wood, in response to a remark made by 
Mrs. Harris. 


The Opening of the Club-Room. T07 

“ Shall we begin with you ? ” asked Sa- 
bra pleasantly. 

“My mother began with me, and finished 
the work so completely, that nothing re- 
mains for another to do,” he replied. “ I 
gave myself credit for having some deci- 
sion of character, yet when put to the test 
I discovered my mistake ; but I learned a 
lesson that will not need to be repeated.” 

“ To acknowledge a fault implies repent- 
ance; to avoid a repetition of the fault 
proves the repentance to be sincere,” said 
Mrs. Harris, thus breaking an awkward 
silence, and also reassuring the young 
man, who felt that he had forfeited the 
esteem of his friends. 

As no one seemed inclined to continue 
the conversation, they bade each other 
good-night and separated. 

“ I am glad you have come,” said Elva, 
as her sister entered the room where she 
was sitting alone. 

“ Have you been alone all the evening ? ” 
was asked in reply. 

“ Susan West was in for a few minutes, 


io8 Miss Belindas Friends, 

but I think she must have thought me 
very poor company. She wanted to talk 
about last evening, and I never want to 
hear it mentioned. She said the Lathams 
will have a party, next week, and we shall 
be invited. I did not tell her so, but I 
hope something will happen to give me an 
excuse for declining the invitation. I have 
no wish to repeat the experience of last 
evening. I wish you had been there, to 
keep me from acting foolishly. I never 
tasted a drop of wine before, and I never 
intend to taste it again. It was ill-bred in 
the Wests to have wine, when they know, 
well enough, that people here never pro- 
vide it at entertainments.'' 

‘‘No one was obliged to drink it, Elva." 

“ I know that as well as you do, Sabra, 
but every one except Ruth Eastwood did 
drink it, and Susan West said it was very 
rude in her to refuse. Did Ruth tell you 
about David ? " 

“Yes, she did." 

“Well, Susan West the same as com- 
pelled him to drihk with her, and the mean- 


The Opening of the Club-Room. 109 

est part of it was that she boasted to 
George Darnley of her intention. I am 
not certain, but I think they had a bet on 
it. If you had been there, you would have 
saved David Eastwood. It is plain to me 
that your duty was in Mrs. West s parlors 
instead of in Miss Belinda s room.” 

I do not think so. I am glad I went 
to Miss Belinda’s room, and I expect to 
go there again soon, to help organize an- 
other temperance society. Will you join 
it, Elva ? ” 

'' I don’t know. What will be expected 
of its members ? ” 

‘‘Total abstinence from all distilled and 
fermented drinks, with a readiness to work 
in every possible way for the suppression 
of liquor-drinking and liquor-selling.” 

“ Even to visiting liquor-saloons ? ” 

“Yes; that comes within the limits of 
the pledge. It is possible to be done.” 

“ But I would never do that. It makes 
a woman too conspicuous.” 

“ Hardly more conspicuous than drink- 
ing wine under some circumstances.” 


I lO 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


“ For mercy sake don't say anything 
about that, Sabra, and don’t say any more 
about temperance. I am tired of it. I 
believe I am tired of everything. I have 
half a mind to go to grandmother’s and 
spend a month. I think she would be glad 
to see me, and perhaps I should come back 
in better humor. You can spare me as 
well as not.” 

I shall miss you; but you can brighten 
up the old house for grandmother, and 
make her very happy.” 

I will certainly try to do so, if father 
and mother will consent to my going.” 

Their consent was easily obtained, and 
before the week closed Elva Harris had 
been welcomed at the old homestead, where 
she fancied no vexed questions would in- 
trude to mar her pleasure. 

Meanwhile there was a general canvass 
among those ladies likely to engage in act- 
ive temperance work ; resulting more favor- 
ably than the most sanguine had dared to 
hope. A society was organized, with a 
full quota of officers. Mrs. Eastwood was 


The Opening of the Club-Room. 1 1 1 

chosen president; Mrs. Harris and Mrs. 
Ryeland, vice-presidents; Sabra Harris, 
secretary and treasurer ; while she, with 
five others, constituted a visiting commit- 
tee, whose duties were varied, yet distinctly 
understood. 

The society was to meet each week for 
conference, consultation, and prayer. Once 
a month there was to be a public meeting, 
intended to be attractive and of general 
interest, and when it was expected that 
others would be induced to join them. 

‘‘We have made a good beginning,’’ 
said Ruth Eastwood to her mother, upon 
their return home from Miss Belinda’s 
room, which was already known as “ Tem- 
perance Headquarters.” 

“Yes, but the beginning is often the 
easiest part of the work,” was replied. 
“ It requires hard thinking and persistent 
effort to keep a society up to the mark. 
Every member needs to do her best. In 
our public meetings, especially, each one 
must feel responsible, although we shall 
depend very much upon our young ladies.’' 


I 12 


Miss Belinda s Friends, 


O mother, if only Miss Belinda would 
tell her story, everybody would be inter- 
ested. I thought she ought to be one of 
the officers of the society, qnd I know she 
will do as much good as any one. She 
can speak from experience, and Dr. Harris 
says there are very few men or women 
who would have done as well as she.” 

Teddy Fritter told Sabra Harris that 
Miss Belinda was a whole society all by 
herself. Perhaps there was no other one 
in the community so delighted at what had 
been done as was Teddy, who expressed 
his delight in a characteristic manner. 

‘‘Won't the liquor-men feel mean, and 
won’t they lose their customers ! ” he ex- 
claimed, swinging his old straw hat. “ I 
tell you, Micky, it is a big thing to have 
two temperance societies started so near 
together ; but I am glad ours was the very 
first. Queer president, though, I am, be- 
side Mrs. Eastwood. But, Micky, we’ll 
do our best, and I have got two more to 
join us. Have you got anybody ? ” 

“ Not yet; but there’s three I’m working 


The Opening of the Club-Room, 1 1 3 

for, and give me time, Fll fetch them. One 
of them is my own cousin, and cousin, too, 
to little Pat Reegan. His uncle gave him 
some whiskey, once, and after that, his 
mother said she'd just fight the saloon all 
she could, no matter if it was her brother 
that kept it. But do you mind, Teddy, 
there's a club-room in Whalan's block 
where the swells go to play billiards, and 
such like games. I heard somebody say 
they would have wine there ; so I expect 
they’ll smoke and drink, same as poor fel- 
lows, only have it cost more." 

‘‘Yes, Micky, and when they get drunk 
they are just as bad. Miss Belinda says 
so. The temperance papers say so too. 
The rich men swear just as bad as the 
poor ones, too ; for I have heard them. 
Micky, what do you think about being a 
real out-and-out Christian, such as Miss 
Harris and Miss Belinda are ? " 

“ What is being a Christian ? Is it being 
on the square every time ? ” 

“ Yes, and praying; asking God to help 
you do right, and keep you from doing 
8 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


114 

wrong. I have to pray; because, you see, 
I have got so much on my hands I never 
could get along if I didn't. Miss Belinda 
says she could’n't, either." 

‘‘ Does Johnny pray ? " 

‘‘ He tries to, but he is so slimsey and 
discouraged, he don’t half believe he is go- 
ing to get what he prays for." 

Do you believe ? " 

“ Of course I do. I know the help is 
coming. I am looking now for better jobs, 
so I can earn more money, and I pray 
about that." 

‘‘Well, now, I should like to hear you, 
so I can learn how." 

“ Come right to my praying-place. Miss 
Belinda says it is a good plan to have a 
particular place ; so I have, and it always 
seems as though I could pray better there 
than anywhere else." 

In a corner of the barn chamber these 
two boys knelt; one praying for needed 
blessings, while the other listened eagerly 
and reverently. 

“Makes a fellow feel good, don’t it?" 


The Opening of the Club-Room. 1 1 5 

said the latter, as they rose from their 
knees. ‘‘ I won’t forget it, and I’ll be look- 
ing to see if you get what you asked for. 
You’ll tell me all about it, won’t you ? ” 

''Yes, I will, and mind, now. I’m ex- 
pecting it soon.” 

" Have you got better jobs ? ” asked 
Micky, when he met his friend two days 
after this conversation. 

"Not yet, but I am expecting them,’' 
was replied cheerfully. " I have had one 
chance that I wouldn’t take. It was in the 
club-room. I don’t know what they wanted 
of me there, but I know I wouldn’t go. 
It was half a dollar for two hours’ easy 
work, but I am going to earn half a dollar 
some other way if I can. If I can’t I’m 
bound to feel rich, all the same ; because 
Johnny is going to earn some money. 

" He is learning to braid straw, and 
there is a man wants every yard he can 
get. Mother braids, too, but it was Miss 
Belinda who thought about Johnny doing 
it. He likes it, and Miss Belinda says the 
last yard he braided is good enough to sell.” 


CHAPTER IX. 


WORSE THAN DEAD. 

In leaving home, Elva Harris had hoped 
to leave everything unpleasant behind her ; 
especially did she hope that no allusion 
would be made to temperance, or in- 
temperance. But she was doomed to 
disappointment. The next morning after 
reaching her grandmother’s, she overheard 
some part of a conversation which led her 
to ask : 

“ Is any one dead ? ” 

“ Worse than that,” was replied. “ Mor- 
ley Leighton is in the old Mann house, 
dead drunk ; lying on a miserable, dirty 
straw bed, beside Jerry Simpkins.” 

“ Morley Leighton dead drunk ! ” re- 
peated Elva, an expression of intense sur- 
prise upon her face. “ How can that be? 
He couldn’t be like old Jerry Simpkins. It 
must be a mistake.” 

(Ii6) 


Worse than Dead, 


117 


'' A terrible mistake, but Morley is there. 
His father has been to look after him, and 
he is to be carried home.'’ 

“Why, grandmother, I used to think 
Morley Leighton was a perfect gentleman. 
His sister, too, was so agreeable, and so 
devoted to him." 

“ She is as devoted to him as ever, but 
she has very little influence over him." 

V Such a beautiful home as he has, with 
plenty of money for everything he can 
desire ; it does not seem possible that he 
should sink so low. I remember how de- 
lighted I used to be, when I was invited 
to Mrs. Leighton’s. Morley was very polite. 
He used to give me cake, and a tiny glass 
of currant wine for lunch. He drank wine 
with me, and I thought he was delightful. 
He said his mother made the wine ; so it 
could not possibly hurt me. Even Sabra 
saw no harm in drinking it." 

“ Mrs. Leighton saw no harm in making 
it, but she would no more make it now, 
than she would mix poison for her family. 
Morley began with her wine, and where he 


1 1 8 Miss Belindas Friends. 

will end no one knows. He is as bad 
as Jerry Simpkins. It is not the first time 
he has lain on the straw, too drunk to 
know or care what were his surroundings. 
I have wished, more than once, that the 
old house would burn down. There has 
always been a drunkard living in it, from 
Josiah Mann, down. Jerry owns it, and 
can not be driven out.” 

“ Is that where Belinda Mann used to 
live ? ” 

'' Yes, it is ; and a smarter girl than she 
was never lived in this town. She had a 
hard life, but she did the best she could, 
and deserved better of her family than she 
received. She was a drudge for every 
one of them. I always pitied her, and I 
have wished, a good many times, that I 
knew what had become of her.” 

Elva Harris could gratify this wish, but 
in talking of Miss Belinda, Morley Leigh- 
ton was not forgotten. 

The son of a wealthy man, holding a 
high official position, no advantage or 
assistance would have been denied him. 


Worse than Dead, 


119 

Talented, well educated, and possessed of 
pleasing manners, he had been a general 
favorite. Fastidious, too, in his tastes, and 
accustomed to the elegancies of life, he 
was the last one who would have been ex- 
pected to choose the vilest drunkard in 
town as a boon companion. 

But, as was generally said, there was 
not another low enough for him. There 
were young men who would drink one, 
and perhaps two glasses of liquor with 
him, but this only seemed to whet his ap- 
petite for more. Nothing less than posi- 
tive intoxication would satisfy him, and 
even this must be prolonged by continued 
potations, whenever he was sufficiently 
aroused to be conscious of anything. 

He had probably started in for a three 
days’ drunk,” said a neighbor who was de- 
scribing his condition. '' He expected his 
father to be away for a week, but for some 
reason Mr. Leighton came back, this 
morning, before sunrise, and the first 
thing, he was looking after Morley.” 

‘'Old Jerry ought to be punished for 


I 20 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


leading the boy off,” replied the woman to 
whom these remarks were made. 

“ Old Jerry did not lead him off. Mor- 
ley was seen going down there, early last 
evening, with a jug of whiskey, and the 
jug is not yet empty.” 

“The man who sold him the whiskey 
ought to be prosecuted, and punished to 
the full extent of the law,” 

“Yes, but Morley would never betray 
the seller. That would be violating his 
code of honor. It is a terrible pity that he 
should do as he does. He is really kind- 
hearted, and generous to a fault. He 
would share his last dollar with any one 
who seemed to need it.” 

“ It is a pity he has so much money to 
spend. His mother is doing wrong, to let 
him have it.” 

“ I don’t know about that, tie knows 
there is plenty of it in the family, and he 
would have no scruples about taking it. 
He would have it in some way. I tell 
you, Mrs. Morse, it is hard to know what 
to do with such a boy. He is a frank. 


Worse than Dead. 


I2I 


manly fellow, when he is sober ; smart, 
too, the smartest fellow in town ; but his 
terrible appetite for liquor is ruining him. 
I am waiting, now, to help his father about 
getting him home/' 

Not long after, Mr. Leighton was seen 
driving Morley s own horse, harnessed to 
a common express wagon in which was a 
large quantity of straw. The neighbor 
went out, and within half an hour the 
wagon was again driven past; this time 
containing Morley Leighton, who beyond 
calling for more whiskey, had seemed 
wholly unconscious of what was transpir- 
ing. 

He probably will not be seen again for 
weeks, except by his family,” remarked 
Grandmother Harris, as she turned away 
from the window with a sigh. ‘‘Nobody 
knows the truth of it, but people think that 
sometimes when his spree, as they call it, 
is cut short, as it has been now, he is 
given liquor at home to prevent his being 
so furious.” 

“ It is the most dreadful of anything I 


122 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


ever heard/' responded Elva. I should 
think his pride would keep him from drink- 
ing in such a way, even if he had no prin- 
ciple about it. He was always so particu- 
lar to dress handsomely, and in the latest 
styles ; he would have been a fop, if he had 
not been too much of a gentleman. I have 
heard Sabra say that. She will be aston- 
ished to know he is such a sot." 

I presume he had been drinking to ex- 
cess, long before it was generally suspect- 
ed. His family kept it secret as long as 
possible." 

And do you really think, grandmother, 
that drinking currant wine gave him a 
taste for other wine ? " 

“ Whether it gave him the taste, I can 
not say ; but I am certain that it helped to 
strengthen it." 

'‘But I never thought of currant wine 
as being real wine which could injure any- 
body. I knew it was a pleasant drink, and 
I liked it." 

" I am afraid a great many others drank 
it without thinking." 


Worse than Dead, 


123 


''I remember you used to put it in 
mince-pies, and I thought it gave them a 
very nice flavor/' 

''Yes, but I learned better than that 
several years ago. I used to make wines 
and cordials of different kinds of fruit, and 
I have some in the house, now, to be used 
for sickness ; but I shall never make any 
more. Mrs. Leighton says . she would 
gladly give up every dollar she has in the 
world, if she could go back to the time 
when Morley was a baby, and begin over 
again with him. I haven’t the same rea- 
son for wishing to go back to the time 
when my children were babies, but after 
the experience I have had, I should do 
very differently with them.” 

" Father is a strong temperance man.” 

" He ought to be. No physician, who is 
not a strong, consistent temperance man, 
ought to be allowed to practice. It is easy 
to prescribe wine or whiskey, as a tonic ; 
but often the tonic proves to be a poison. 
It is better that a man should die without 
the tonicy than afterward to die with the 


124 Mtss Belindas Friends, 

poison. Fortunately that is not the alter- 
native/' 

''Why, grandmother, you are talking 
temperance, the same as your namesake. 
Sabra is almost a fanatic on the subject." 

" I am glad to hear it. She, probably, 
has a long life before her, in which to do 
effective work, while I am almost through. 
Yet I shall do what I can, and so must 
you. You are not like Sabra, but you 
have your work to do in the world, which 
you can not delegate to another." 

" Grandmother, I should think Helen 
Leighton might keep Morley from such 
low associates," said Elva Harris, anxious 
to prevent the conversation becoming 
more personal. " I used to think he was 
very fond of her." 

" He is fond of her ; but to gratify his 
appetite, he would sacrifice every friend 
he has. He is sacrificing them, and him- 
self too." 

" Of course he is not tolerated in re- 
spectable society." 

"Yes, he is. When he is sober, there 


Worse than Dead, 


125 


is hardly a young lady in town who would 
refuse an invitation to drive with him, or 
attend a place of amusement with him. 
Sometimes he will keep sober for weeks, 
and even months ; but I have noticed that 
the longer it is, the worse he drinks when 
he breaks loose again.’' 

‘‘ I thought he was engaged to Patty 
Ainsworth." 

'' He was engaged to her. The ar- 
rangement was made by their parents, 
when they were children, and as they grew 
up, they were happy to confirm it ; but after 
Morley drank so badly and so publicly, 
Patty claimed a release from her engage- 
ment. She told him she could never trust 
her happiness in his hands. She believed 
in total abstinence." 

Is her father a teetotaler ? " 

No, he is not; but Patty is a girl to 
decide questions of principle for herself 
She joined the Church two years ago, and 
if ever anybody tried to do their whole 
duty, she does." 

'' If she had promised to marry Morley 
Leighton, she broke her promise." 


126 


Mzss Belindds Friends, 


Yes, and she was justified in doing it. 
At first, Mr. and Mrs. Leighton blamed 
her, and tried to excuse Morley’s dissipa- 
tion by saying that the disappointment had 
made him reckless ; but they are on good 
terms with her now.” 

It must have been a great disappoint- 
ment to him.” 

'' Not so much as it was to her. It nearly 
broke her heart ; but she was too sensible, 
and too sincere a Christian to allow it to 
spoil her life. She comes over to see me, 
once in a while, and I always feel the bet- 
ter for her visits.” 

‘'Did her father and mother approve of 
what she did ? ” 

“Not at first. The families have always 
been great friends, and Mrs. Ainsworth 
was pleased with the prospect of having 
her daughter marry where there was so 
much money ; but they have seen enough, 
since then, to convince them that Patty 
was right. If other young ladies would 
decide as she did, there would be fewer 
drunkards in the coming generations.” 


Worse than Dead, 


127 


Elva Harris was tired of temperance, yet 
she found the subject uppermost in her 
mind, as well as in the minds of all around 
her. The next day the topic of interest 
was still the conduct of Morley Leighton, 
and the probable intention of his parents 
in regard to him. 

The next week it was known that he 
had left town with his father ; after which, 
life in his home, so far as it could be seen, 
went on as usual. 

His sister called at Mrs. Harris', making 
an effort to appear cheerful, yet break- 
ing down utterly as she arose to take her 
leave. 

Don't, child, don’t. It won't do any 
good,” said the old lady, folding the sob- 
bing girl close in her arms. 

I know it, but how can I help it ? ” was 
responded. What shall Ido? How can 
I live, and know that my brother is a drunk- 
ard ! It is more than I can bear.” 

It is hard for you ; but God will help 
you bear even that, if you ask Him.” 

I have asked Him, and I have prayed 


128 


Miss Belinda's Friends. 


for Morley. I have tried, so hard, to have 
Morley do better; but it has been of no 

yf 

use. 

If you can not influence him, you must 
try to influence others. If you can not 
save him, perhaps you may be the means 
of saving others, and their souls are as prec- 
ious as his.” 

'' I know it, Mrs. Harris ; but I have an 
especial duty with him.” 

Our especial duty is to do all the good 
we can ; not in our way, but in God's 
way.” 


CHAPTER X. 


A NEW DEPARTURE. 

A woman's temperance society is what 
I never expected to see in this town. Mrs. 
Leighton, too, is the one who started it ; 
and they say Patty Ainsworth is sure to 
come into it heart and hand. Her father 
and mother don’t really approve of it, but 
she is going to do what she thinks is her 
duty.” 

Pve heard the women were talking of 
having a society all to themselves, and for 
my part, I don^t believe in it. They better 
attend to their home duties,” was answered, 
somewhat sharply. 

Home duties have a wide range,” said 
the first speaker. '' It is time something 
was done to stop so much liquor-selling 
and liquor-drinking. You certainly must 
acknowledge that.” 


9 


(129) 


130 Miss Belindas Friends. 

Then let the men do it/' 

But they will not do it. They have 
shirked the responsibility. They have ex- 
cused themselves, and apologized for doing 
nothing, until at last they stopped even 
that. It is now five years since we made 
any pretensions to having a working tem- 
perance society. I am glad the women 
are going to take the matter into their own 
hands. They are the right ones to do it. 
There isn't very often a glass of liquor 
drank, when some woman does not suffer 
for it, sooner or later. There is Mrs. Leigh- 
ton and Helen wearing themselves out 
with worrying over Morley. They better 
be doing what they can to save somebody 
else from suffering as they do." 

You may be right. I don't want to 
put a straw in the way of any good work ; 
but it is against my ideas of woman's 
place to have her coming out quite so pub- 
lic. Folks say they are going to call a 
meeting, right off, in the town-hall, and 
make speeches, and pray over it, the same 
as men." 


A New Departure, 1 3 1 

I hope they will pray better than the 
men who ask the Lord to stop the evil of 
intemperance, and never lift a hand them- 
selves, to help stop it. There has been 
too much such praying.’' 

I am not going to dispute you ; but 
woman has her place and man has his.” 

Ten years ago, I should have said that 
woman’s place was at home, caring for her 
house and her children if she had them ; 
but an enemy threatens her home, and 
she has no choice in her modes of defence. 
She must do all she can in every way she 
can, or the homes of our country will be 
despoiled. Our town is small, yet we 
have had a great deal of trouble with 
liquor.” 

“ Perhaps we have, ’though I never 
thought of it in that way. We haven’t 
many drunkards among us. There is Jer- 
ry Simpkins ” 

‘‘ He is always quoted, but there are 
men in town worse than he. He is a hard 
drinker, but he is the most harmless drunk- 
ard that has ever occupied the old house. 


132 Mzss Belinda! s Friends. 

He has no one depending upon him, while 
the others have had families. You remem- 
ber John Mann. He was a hard drinker, 
and a hard man in every way. His son 
was as bad as he was, and his wife was 
too much discouraged to try to make things 
better. If it hadn’t been for Belinda, they 
would have starved or frozen.” 

“She was a smart girl.” 

Yes, but her father and brother just 
kept her down where she couldn’t do more 
than keep soul and body together. Women 
have the hardest of liquor-drinking any- 
way. No matter how bad a drunkard a 
man is, he expects some woman to make 
things comfortable for him, even if he don’t 
provide a cent to do it with. 

‘‘One winter, when the Manns lived in 
the old house, Belinda got most of the 
wood they had to burn, out of Mr. Dean’s 
wood-lot. I have seen her dragging it on 
an old hand-sled many a cold, frosty morn- 
ing before light. Sometimes she would 
get her brother started with her, but gen- 
erally she had to go alone. 


A New Departure, 


133 


'"You and I don't know what women 
have to bear with drinking husbands. No- 
body knows but themselves ; and as a rule, 
they don't tell the worst." 

Well, I am sorry for them, and I don't 
know but it is a good thing for them to 
get together and see what they can do." 

The women of the town evidently 
thought so. At the time appointed a large 
company assembled ; some, of course, 
moved by curiosity, yet the many serious 
faces testified to an earnest purpose. 

Strange to say, Elva Harris was present 
with her grandmother, who offered the 
opening prayer ; giving thanks that she 
had lived to see that day. No one had 
asked Elva to attend the meeting, but her 
grandmother had assumed that she would 
go, and she did not care to manifest any 
unwillingness. 

Mrs. Leighton had discussed the matter 
in her presence, and Patty Ainsworth had 
expressed regret that she could not be 
with them to assist in their proposed work. 
Under these circumstances, she would not 


134 Miss Belindas Friends. 

make herself so singular, as to disclaim all 
interest in the subject then uppermost in 
the minds of the best people. She acqui- 
esced in what was said, because it was 
easier to do so than to dissent. But when 
the meeting was over, and she was again 
in her grandmother s sitting-room, she said 
a little impatiently : 

It seems to me the world has suddenly 
waked up ; as though it was a new thing 
for people to drink some kind of intoxi- 
cating liquor ; but they have always done 
it.” 

‘'That is true, child, but it is something 
new for women to come to the front in 
working against it. When I was of your 
age, it was thought that men should man- 
age all such things. Besides, people did 
not realize what a curse liquor-drinking 
was. If a man was very poor, no one 
thought of blaming liquor for his poverty, 
unless he was a notorious drunkard. 
There were a good many families where 
tea was considered so much of a luxury, 
that it was only used on great occasions, 


A New Departure. 


135 


but where liquor of some kind was counted 
among the necessaries of life.” 

What has made the difference between 
now and then ? ” 

^Warious causes have worked together 
to effect the change. Women have been 
coming more to the front all along the line. 
They saw the need of more earnest work 
and more enthusiastic workers. We have 
never had a woman's temperance society 
in this town until now, but with one we 
should have had fewer poverty-stricken 
families. I am very thankful I have lived 
to see such a society organized, and I shall 
do all I can toward making its influence 
felt.” 

'' Do you know, grandmother, that I 
came away from home, partly because I 
did not wish to take any active part for or 
against temperance. I could not make up 
my mind to join a temperance society, and 
I certainly could not oppose it; so as I 
wished to make you a visit, I thought it 
was a good time to come. I didn't intend 
to tell you about it, but I felt obliged to 


136 Miss Belindas Friends, 

confess, the same as when I was a little 
girl and had done something I knew you 
would disapprove/' 

'' What if I should tell you I had guess- 
ed something of the kind ? " responded 
Mrs. Harris pleasantly to Elva's frank con- 
fession. 

Why, grandmother, how could you ? " 
exclaimed the astonished girl. 

guessed it from the way you have 
spoken of what Sabra was attempting to 
do, and of what Belinda said. Then I 
learned to read your face, when it was 
an open book, and even now I can some- 
times catch a glimpse between the covers. 
Ah ! child, when you have lived to see 
what I have seen, you will feel differently. 

'' Rum-drinking has been the curse ot 
this town, as it has of almost every town 
and city in our country. Perhaps I should 
not call it all rum-drinking, for rum is old- 
fashioned ; but with me it stands for every- 
thing which can intoxicate : wine, brandy, 
whiskey, gin, beer, and hard old cider. 
We have had some cider drunkards among 


A New Departure. 137 

us, as bad as any. What if you had a 
brother, like Morley Leighton ? '' 

'' It seems to me I would move heaven 
and earth to save him. I don't wonder 
Helen is enthusiastic over forming a so- 
ciety." 

“ Neither do I ; but what if her mother 
had been as enthusiastic in the same cause, 
when a young lady ? " 

'‘She would not have made currant 
wine, would she, grandmother ? " 

"No, indeed; neither would she have 
married a man accustomed to take a social 
glass with his friends. She would have 
foreseen the possible danger and avoided 
it. There was some excuse for ignorance, 
years ago ; but now that every phase of 
the question has been studied and dis- 
cussed by able men and women, ignorance 
is culpable. We know better than to make 
cider a common drink, and pour it out free 
as water for men, women, and children to 
drink. Not a drop goes into my cellar ex- 
cept for vinegar. 

" But, Elva, I am not going to talk 


Mtss Belindas Friends. 


138 

temperance to you, until you are so tired 
of it you will be glad to leave me, that 
you may avoid it. It is not the only sub- 
ject demanding attention.'' 

I am glad to hear you say that, grand- 
mother, for I certainly wish to be told of 
something else." 

You certainly shall be," answered Mrs. 
Harris, with a smile at the somewhat weary 
face. 

Yet, notwithstanding this promise, as 
certainly as the days came around, came 
some bit of news connected with what was 
called the woman's movement." The 
superintendents of the different Sunday- 
schools in town had been interviewed, and 
asked to make temperance a prominent 
subject in their Sunday teachings. 

The day-schools had been visited, and 
the teachers enlisted in the good work. 
The clergymen had been invited to preach 
temperance sermons. 

An especial effort was made to obtain 
the name of every young lady in town on 
the society's book. In some cases it was 


A New Departure, 139 

hard to do this, because of relations with 
young men who were not teetotalers, and 
who looked with disfavor upon such ex- 
treme measures. 

''As though I was in danger of becom- 
ing a drunkard, because I refuse to be 
tied down by promises and pledges, like a 
weak boy ! ” said one, engaged to be mar- 
ried to a light-hearted, merry girl, whose 
every wish had been gratified by parents 
who delighted in her happiness. 

" But you don't call it weak to make 
promises and pledges about other things ; 
and if you never taste of any kind of in- 
toxicating liquor, you can not possibly be 
a drunkard," urged his fiancee. " I knew 
I should never be a drunkard, but I signed 
all the pledges of the society, and I shall 
keep them, too. I am keeping one, by 
trying to induce you to pledge yourself to 
total abstinence." 

" I shall not do it, and if you had con- 
sulted me before attending that temper- 
ance meeting, you would not have gone," 
responded the young man a little sharply. 


140 Afzss Belindas Friends. 

I did not think it necessary to consult 
you ; but if I had, I should have gone all 
the same,’' said the girl, with a decision 
she rarely manifested. '' All my young 
lady friends have joined the society, and I 
intend to do my part of temperance work. 
Mother says it is time for me to think 
seriously about my own responsibilities, 
and after what I heard at the temperance 
meeting, I think so too. Another thing. 
Jack, I am almost afraid to marry you, un- 
less you sign the pledge. I could not live 
with a man who even drank wine ever 
so moderately. I should rather break an 
engagement, as Patty Ainsworth did.” 

The young gentleman to whom this was 
said felt himself quite insulted ; yet, con- 
cealing his anger, he laughed at the fears 
and scruples which he prophesied would 
soon vanish. 


CHAPTER XI. 


SELLING PEANUTS. 

The habitues of the club-room would 
have scorned to be classed with the pa- 
trons of liquor-saloons. Their room was 
handsomely furnished with the usual ap- 
pliances for killing time. There were 
pictures on the walls ; chairs which invited 
to idleness, and papers which could be 
read with more or less of interest while 
smoking. 

Beyond this outer room was another, 
smaller and plainer, opening from which 
was a closet, containing various bottles 
and glasses ; each labelled as belonging to 
one who claimed it as his own personal 
property. 

The saloons laid no claim to elegance. 
Early in the day there was less of revolt- 
ing uncleanliness than in the evening, when 

(141) 


142 


Afzss Belindas Friends. 


the air fairly reeked with the fumes of vile 
tobacco and viler liquors. There was a 
jingling of small coins and unwashed 
glasses, as drinks were dispensed to un- 
questioning customers. Men, roughly 
dressed, often with clothing worn to the 
last degree of decency, spent their money 
to beggar themselves and their families, 
while the saloon-keeper gloated over his 
ill-gotten gains. 

Intoxicating liquor had always been sold 
in town, yet a great majority of the peo- 
ple, even of those employed in mills and 
shops, were teetotalers. Many, less strict 
in their habits, drank so moderately that 
little harm seemed to be done. 

But there had come a change. New 
openings for employment had increased 
the number of workers ; and quick to seize 
the opportunity, unscrupulous men had 
opened saloons which they claimed to be 
for the good of the community, although 
their disastrous effects were soon seen. 

Another class, too, appeared; young 
men whom circumstances exempted from 


Selling Peanuts. 143 

manual labor, and who, for this reason, 
considered themselves entitled to privileges 
denied the less fortunate. To them the 
town was '‘slow and old-fashioned,’' and 
they proposed to introduce new customs ; 
patronizing whom they pleased, and so 
establishing a kind of aristocracy of which 
they would be the centre. 

" We have a double work to do,” said 
Mrs. Eastwood when talking with Mrs. 
Harris. " We must make the club-room 
unpopular, and at the same time draw cus- 
tomers from the saloons. For one work 
we must depend largely upon the young 
ladies ; for the other we must use all 
means and methods we can command. I 
suppose we can not hope for co-operation 
from the sisters of the young men com- 
posing the club.” 

" I fear not. So far as I know, they are 
in league with their brothers, to break 
down what they call our fogy notions. 
They ridicule any one who differs from 
them, and probably expect to accomplish in 
that way what they can not do in any other.” 


144 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


“They do not ridicule Sabra.” 

“ Not in her presence. She has seemed 
to be quite a favorite, but of late she has 
declined some invitations which may have 
given offence. She would not disappoint 
Teddy Fritter, who counts on her to help 
him in his society meetings.” 

“ That boy does nothing by halves. If 
we grown people were as much in earn- 
est as he is, we should soon carry the 
town for total abstinence.” 

“That is true, and he calculates that 
with a dozen boys, thoroughly enlisted, 
there will be some efficient opposition 
made to the saloons. Sabra says she 
would not for the world discourage him, 
although she fears he is too sanguine. He 
is working hard for the dozen boys.” 

How hard he was working for this, no 
other knew so well as did Micky McGill, 
who was his sworn confidant and ally. 

“ We must have a real, live temperance 
paper, with tip-top stories in it,” he said 
to his friend, as they were discussing ways 
and means for increasing the interest. 


Selling Peanuts. 


145 


We’ll do it/’ answered Micky. 

‘‘But papers cost money, and we don’t 
want to beg them. What say, Micky, 
to earning them, selling peanuts and lem- 
onade with ice in it? ” 

“ Where will we go to sell them ? They 
won’t have us anywhere near the saloons, 
and there is where the most men and big 
boys are.” 

“ There is Mr. Hover’s bobbin-shop, 
only three doors from Keegan’s, and Mr. 
Hover pretends to be a temperance man. 
There is a broad step front of his shop, if 
he would let us be there.” 

“Get Miss Harris to ask him, and he 
won’t tell her no.” 

“So I will,” answered Teddy; and the 
next leisure moment he could command, 
he preferred his request. 

This was granted ; when Mr. Hover 
not only gave the use of his broad step, 
but volunteered to see that the boys were 
not molested. Of course, they received 
some further assistance in perfecting their 
plans, and then appeared one Saturday 

10 


146 Mzss Belinda s Friends. 

evening, crying their wares, and so arrest- 
ing the steps of those who were passing. 

Their first customer was a little girl, who 
was walking with her father, and who, 
after buying some peanuts, asked if she 
might have a glass of lemonade ; saying 
softly: 

I almost know it is better than beer/' 

Two glasses were then called for, and 
their price paid, with some words of praise 
for the cool beverage. 

It ought to be good, for it is made 
first-rate, with lots of sugar and ice in it," 
responded Teddy. We aren't going to 
cheat a bit, 'though we want to get all the 
money we can honestly." 

‘'That is right," replied the gentleman. 
“ Be here next Saturday evening, and I 
will patronize you again. You may count 
on us for regular customers." 

Just then two boys came up, who had 
evidently intended going further, but who 
stopped, and finally invested in lemonade. 

“No use keeping on, now we've spent 
our money," said one to the other. “ We 


Selling Peamits, 147 

may as well sit down and see the fun. 
There’s room for us all, isn’t there 1 ” 

'' Yes, if you sit up in the corner, out of 
the way,” answered Teddy. 

All right. The corner is just as good 
as anywhere, and better than some other 
places.” 

Later, some fellows who had already 
visited the saloon, and taken liquor enough 
to make them noisy and reckless, at- 
tempted to drive the young merchants 
from their position. Delivering their or- 
ders with great show of authority, they* 
were about to snatch basket and pail, when 
Mr. Hover appeared upon the scene, and 
sent these intruders about their business. 

As Dr. Harris was driving through the 
street, he stopped to drink a glass of lem- 
onade, for which he paid so liberally, that 
Teddy thought there must be some mis- 
take, and called after him to rectify it. 

There was no mistake, however, and 
when the boys counted their gains, they 
were so delighted that their eyes filled 
with tears. 


148 Miss Belindas Friends. 

I ain’t crying, for I don’t feel a bit 
sorry, but there’s something the matter 
with my winkers,” said Micky. 

So there is with mine, and I guess we 
better wipe up and go home,” replied his 
companion ; and it was not long before 
Teddy was telling his brother of his even- 
ing’s experience. 

We got laughed at, and some little' fel- 
lows tried to steal our peanuts. Then 
some big ones tried to drive us off. But 
we came out all right, and we are going 
again next Saturday night. We might 
have sold lots more of lemonade. Every- 
body praised it, and one man said it was a 
great deal better than beer. He didn’t 
buy any beer afterwards, either, for I 
watched him, and he went straight home. 

‘‘Another thing, John; I am going to 
Sunday-school to-morrow. I haven’t told 
anybody except Micky, but I have got a 
clean white shirt and whole trowsers, and 
I am going.” 

“I hope you will. It must be a good 
place to go,” was replied. 


Selling Peanuts, 


149 


'' Guess it is, Johnny. I have known 
that for ever so long. I thought I wouldn’t 
go till I had a new suit clear through, but 
after what Miss Harris and Miss Belinda 
have done to help me, I arn ashamed not 
to.” 

How much money did you get ? ” 

I don’t know exactly, but it is all in 
the box, and when I get done work, Mon- 
day, Micky and I are going to count it 
together, because, you know, half of it be- 
longs to him. Then we will pay Miss 
Harris the money she lent us, and keep 
the rest for profits.” 

The next day it was necessary for the 
superintendent to form a new class in Sun- 
day-school for the four boys who came ln> 
as clean as clean could be, although poorly 
clothed. Micky McGill and his brother, 
with another member of the temperance 
society, had called early upon Teddy Frit- 
ter, asking permission to accompany him ; 
and so it was that there were four new 
scholars instead of one. 

Something has won father over,” said 


Jkfzss Belindas Friends, 


150 

Micky. Mother was sorry she didn't 
know it in season, to make us more de- 
cent, but it was best for us to go before 
father had time to change. Little Pat 
wants to go, and Janie is fretting herself 
sick at staying away, but Uncle Reegan is 
just set against it." 

These boys expected much, and their 
anticipations were more than realized. 
They were delighted with everything they 
saw and heard ; especially, as at the sug- 
gestion of the superintendent, Sabra Har- 
ris left her class and devoted herself to 
them. The session closed with a short 
temperance talk and the singing of a 
familiar hymn, which last so delighted the 
new-comers that they were sure to be in 
their places the next Sabbath. 

A great many things were happening 
right along, as Teddy said to Miss Belinda, 
when Henry Bedlow moved into the unoc- 
cupied rooms of the old house, bringing 
with him his sisters and the few articles ot 
furniture they could claim as their own. 

Never were children happier to feel that 


Selling Peanuts, 


151 

they had a home. Instead of blaming 
their brother for not sooner providing one, 
they could hardly find words to express 
their gratitude for his kindness. 

Miss Belinda was ready to adopt them 
at once, cheering them with her sympathy, 
and assisting them in their housekeep- 
ing. Martin Luther established himself as 
a sort of body-guard, dividing his atten- 
tions between his former mistress and the 
children, who thought him the grandest 
pet in the world. 

John Fritter was a wonder to them. 
They could not understand why he should 
stay in the house and work like a woman ; 
yet they soon made friends with him, and 
really seemed to arouse him somewhat 
from his usual apathy. 

When Sabra Harris made her weekly 
visit. to the old house, she spent most of 
her time in the large back room, where she 
found Lucy and Elsie Bedlow, who told 
her much of their past life. 

They had not been in Sunday-school 
since their mother died, but they were 


152 Miss Belindas Friends. 

going as soon as their brother could pro- 
vide them with suitable clothing. He 
chose to do this, without assistance from 
others, and as he was earning tolerable 
wages, he hoped soon to accomplish it. 

'‘You have already done so much for 
me, I can not lay myself under further 
obligations,’' he said to Miss .Belinda, 
through whom the offer of assistance was 
made. " It is better for me to do it all my- 
self. I can do it, too. A young man, with 
good health and good habits, can accom- 
plish anything.” 

" That is true,” replied his friend. 
" When I was of your age, I used to think 
that if I was only a man, I could gain for 
myself everything I wanted in the world ; 
but there is a better chance for poor peo- 
ple now than there was then. There are 
better schools, more churches, more good 
reading, and more trying to help them up. 
There are always friends for those who 
need and deserve them. I have always 
found friends ; and now I can walk with- 
out crutches, I sometimes feel as though 
my best days were to come.” 


CHAPTER XII. 


OLD JERRY SIMPKINS. 

Elva Harris was sitting by an open 
window, when she saw a blear-eyed man 
going to the kitchen-door, with a battered 
tin pail in his hand ; and presently she 
heard her grandmother say : 

‘‘ Good-morning, Mr. Simpkins. Come 
in and sit down.’' 

Thank you kindly ; but I guess I won’t 
stop,” was replied. '' I have come to see 
if I can buy two quarts of milk. I want 
some to drink, clear, and some to put in 
my coffee. It is a good while since I bought 
any, but I thought I would try some for a 
day or two instead of whiskey. There, 
Mrs. Harris, now you have got the whole 
story.” 

“ It is a good story ; too good for you 
to keep all to yourself, but I hope you will 

(153) 


154 Miss Belindas Friends, 

have a better one to tell me to-morrow 
morning.” 

What would that have to be ?” asked 
the man. 

That you had decided never to drink 
another drop of intoxicating liquor so long 
as you live.” 

‘‘ I wish I could. I wish I had made up 
my mind to that forty years ago. Then I 
should be somebody better than old Jerry 
Simpkins, the drunkard of the town.” 

You can be something better than that 
now,” said Mrs. Harris. “ It is not too late 
for you to reform.” 

'' I don’t know as it is, ’though I have 
thought it was for a good many years. 
But Patty Ainsworth came to see me yes- 
terday, and talked to me till it almost 
seemed as though I could do anything I 
wanted to. I hadn’t a drop of liquor in the 
house ; and after what she said to me, I was 
ashamed to go for any ; so I lived through 
last night without my dram.” 

If you can live through one night with- 
out a dram, you can live through one hun- 
dred 1' 


155 


Old Jerry Simpkins. 

'' I don't know about that, and — no of- 
fence to you, ma’am — you don’t know any- 
thing about it. You don’t know what it is 
to have your throat and stomach all on fire, 
and only one thing in the world that will 
stop the burning. Now, I put it to you fairly: 
Isn’t it hard not to take that one thing 
when you are thirsty and craving for it ? ” 

''Yes, Mr. Simpkins, it must be. But 
there is no need of getting into a condition 
where you have such a thirst.” 

" I know it, but you see I have got into 
it, and it is the worst thing in the world for 
a man to get rid of It sticks to him 
tighter than anything else.” 

" I am willing to believe that, Mr. Simp- 
kins, but the grace of God can help you 
to overcome it.” 

" I wish I had that grace. When I was 
lying awake last night, I thought all over 
what my mother used to say to me when I 
was a boy, and after I grew older. I wish 
I had done as she told me. Why, I felt 
so bad to think how she had worried over 
me, that I got up and tramped around the 


156 Miss Belindas Friends, 

field for two or three hours. I climbed 
the pinnacle six times, until at last I was 
so tired I had to go back to the house. 
But I am saying too much. I don’t want 
to trouble you. If you will let me have the 
milk, I will go. Only there is one thing, 
Mrs. Harris ; if you hear of my being 
drunk again before to-morrow night, I 
want you to know that I shall fight as long 
as I can before I give up ; so you won’t 
think of me worse than I am.” 

‘‘You shall have my sympathy and my 
prayers ; and you have not troubled me. 
I was thinking of you, this morning, and 
made up my mind to call at your house 
this very day. You are welcome to all the 
milk you will use, and if you will take a 
chair by the west window, we will have a 
friendly talk together.” 

Jerry Simpkins looked at the woman 
who thus addressed him, with an expres- 
sion of surprise and wonder on his bloated 
face. That Mrs. Harris, who was held in 
such general esteem, should desire a 
friendly talk with him was past his under- 


Old yerry Simpkins. 157 

standing*. He keenly felt his unworthiness, 
yet he so longed for sympathy, that he 
could not bring himself to quite refuse the 
kind Invitation. 

I ain’t fit to come in, but I will take a 
chair here, outside, on the platform,” he 
answered. I am a little shaky this morn- 
ing. I miss my bitters, and I didn’t have 
much in my cupboard either. I had a 
chance to earn seventy-five cents to-day, 
but it was where I didn’t dare to go for 
fear of the cider.” 

“ Then let me give you some breakfast, 
aq^d after that we will have our talk.” 

Thank you, kindly ; but I better not 
stop to eat.” 

Mrs. Harris insisted, however, upon 
giving him some breakfast, and soon a 
substantial repast was spread upon a plain 
pine table, standing just outside the door. 
The strong coffee proved even more wel- 
come than the food ; since it somewhat 
assuaged the thirst which half maddened 
the unfortunate man. After eating and 
drinking, he expressed his gratitude warm- 
ly, saying in conclusion : 


158 Miss Belindas Friends, 

I ought to go on the strength of this 
all day.” 

‘‘ I should be glad to give you as much 
every day, if you would only give up the 
use of liquor,” was responded. Think 
how much good your example would do, 
besides what you would gain for yourself.” 

I know all about it, Mrs. Harris. I 
have thought it all over a hundred times. 
Don’t suppose I have lived all these years 
without wishing I was different. Why, I 
never read of a man who has made some- 
thing of himself, without thinking I might 
have done as well, if I had only made up 
my mind to it. Old Jerry Simpkins is as 
hateful to me as he can be to anybody 
else. 

“ When Patty Ainsworth came to see 
me, yesterday, I wouldn’t let her come into 
my house, because it isn’t a fit place for 
her. But we had a long talk together 
under the old elm, and I was glad of a 
chance to tell her that I ain’t as much to 
blame about Morley Leighton as folks 
think I am. The first time he was in my 


Old Jerry Simpkins, 159 

house, I picked him up beside the road, 
and carried him there and took care of 
him. till he got so he could go home. 

'' I told Patty Ainsworth that and a good 
deal more, and she said she believed me. 
Morley Leighton learned to drink liquor 
at home. His father always took wine till 
lately, but he can't be moderate about any- 
thing. He goes the whole figure at once. 
If I could see him now, I should talk to 
him different from what I ever did before, 
and beg him to stop before he goes any 
further. But the right time to stop is be- 
fore a boy or man takes the first glass. 
That is what your woman's society ought 
to work for, and if all the women were 
agreed on it, they could kill out the liquor 
quicker than it can be done in any other 
way." 

‘‘ Then you believe the women are right 
in organizing a temperance society ? " 

I wonder they didn't do it before. If 
the women in the town where I was 
brought up had struck for temperance, I 
should have gone with them. But then 


t6o Miss Belindas Friends, 

everybody, men and women, took punch, 
egg-nog, and such light stuff; and when 
the men were by themselves, they took 
something stronger, and more of it.” 

I know how it was, Mr. Simpkins, and 
there are not many of us but have some 
responsibility in this matter. We must try 
to do better in the future, and so make 
what amends we can for the past. That 
is all any of us can do, except to help 
each other.” 

I wish I could help somebody,” said 
the poor man. It seems to me if Morley 
Leighton was here, I could make him stop 
and think what he will come to if he keeps 
on drinking. But perhaps I couldn't. I 
am such a miserable wretch, I have 
thought for more than ten years that all 
there was for me was to keep right on in 
the old way, till Patty Ainsworth came to 
see me. One thing, 'though, I have always 
been glad I hadn't a wife or children to be 
dragged down with me.” 

You might have been a different man, 
with a family dependent upon you.” 


Old Je^^ry Si^npkins. 161 

The chances would have been against 
it. When a man is set to drink liquor, he 
don’t care half as much for his family as he 
does for the liquor. If I was a woman, 
there couldn’t anything tempt me to marry 
a man who wasn’t what you call a teeto- 
taler.” 

There was a prolonged conversation 
between these two, one of whom was 
painfully conscious of his unworthiness 
and degradation, while the other strove to 
uplift him with words of sympathy and 
kindness. At length the visitor said de- 
cidedly that he must go, and after thank- 
ing Mrs. Harris for her kindness, promised 
to come the next morning prepared for 
work. 

‘H couldn’t help hearing what Jerry 
Simpkins said, and I was surprised to hear 
him talk so well,” remarked Elva Harris to 
her grandmother, soon after he had taken 
his leave. I supposed he was too coarse 
and ignorant to express himself with any- 
thing like propriety, but he talked as well 
as most people.” 


II 


i 62 


Miss Belinda! s Friends. 


“To be sure he did. I never talked 
with him so much before, but I have heard 
that he has a respectable education ; al- 
though the people here know very little 
about him, except that he has been a be- 
sotted drunkard for the last ten years, He 
bought the house he lives in when he first 
came to town, about twelve years ago. 
He was then a good mechanic, ingenious 
in many ways, and earning large wages.” 

“ Do you suppose he will really reform ? ” 
“ I don’t know what to suppose ; but if 
Patty Ainsworth has begun with him, she 
will not easily give him up. I think I shall 
walk down that way this afternoon, and 
see what he is doing.” 

“ Isn’t it dreadful that a man should 
ever get to be what he is 1 ” 

“Yes, it is, and it is dreadful, too, that 
women, old and young, like you and me, 
should not do all in our power to prevent 
such things. The worst drunkards in the 
country are rnen who began with drinking 
wine in elegant dining-rooms, parlors, and 
club-rooms.” 


Old Jerry Shnpkins, 163 

'‘^Why, grandmother, do you really 
think so ? ” 

'' I am sure of it ; because those who 
have the best opportunity for knowing, 
and in whom I have confidence, say so. 
There is Morley Leighton/’ 

But I never heard of any one else, 
like him, being so bad.” 

'' I am afraid you and I have never in- 
vestigated the subject very thoroughly.” 

It is not a pleasant subject, is it, grand- 
mother ? ” 

‘‘ I can not say that it is. But we are 
not living merely for pleasure. You can 
do a great work for temperance, if you 
will, Elva, and you will be held to account 
for all you might do. Temperance is not 
above religion ; but there can be no re- 
ligion without temperance ; and in these 
days, temperance which is not teetotalism 
is of small account.” 

‘‘ Grandmother, last New Year’s, Sabra 
and I began to work mottoes for the year, 
and now we .have them framed and hang- 
ing in our room. Sabra’s is ^ Duty ’; mine 


164 Jlfzss Belindas Friends, 

is ' Pleasure and so far, Sabra has lived 
in exact accordance with her motto/' 

'' And you ? " 

I have done nothing worthy of being 
repeated/' 

Which has been the happier ? " 

‘‘ Sabra is the happiest girl I know of, 
although everybody seems to come to her 
with their troubles, and she is always plan- 
ning how she can help some one. She is 
very decided in her ideas of what is right, 
so that she disagrees with a good many ; 
but for all that, people like her, even if 
they do think entirely different from her." 

‘‘ I am glad to hear so good a report of 
her, and I expect, as you grow older, you 
will follow in her footsteps." 

I don't know about that, grandmother, 
but I wish I knew whether there is a gen- 
eral awakening to a sense of duty, or if 
the awakening is especially with me." 


CHAPTER XIII. 


A SPLENDID GIRL. 

Ground was broken for a house on 
Fort Hill, the finest building site in town. 
Fayette Lyman, who, by his father’s 
death, had lately come into possession of 
this land, together with a large fortune, so 
invested as to yield a generous income, 
decided to build here his summer resi- 
dence. 

Still a young man, with an accomplished 
wife, some years his junior, it was natural 
that there should be much curiosity in re- 
gard to his habits and principles. 

He has had the reputation of being 
pretty fast ; but now he is married, he may 
settle down and make a worthy citizen,” 
said one gentleman to another. At any 
rate, he will bring a good deal of money 
with him, and that will be an advantage to 

(165) 


i66 


Mzss Belinda! s Friends, 


the town. Business promises to be lively 
here for a year or two. Real estate is 
coming up, and farmers will find a market 
for what they raise without carrying it to 
the city.” 

I hope Lyman will help along on the 
right side of things. We have enough 
help on the wrong side. I suppose no- 
body knows how much he Is really 
worth.” 

'' I think not. His father made a will, 
although he was the only heir ; and it was 
made in such a way as to prevent taking 
an inventory of his property.” 

How did Lyman, senior, make his 
money ? ” 

By liquor. He kept his hand well 
covered, but he managed to rake in his 
pile whenever dividends were declared.” 

Come by liquor, go by liquor. I have 
noticed that such money seldom stays in 
the family. You know some people be- 
lieve that a curse rests upon it.” 

I hope it won’t be so in this case. It 
would be a pity to have such a man waste 


167 


A Splendid GirL 

his riches in liquor. Such men often drink 
moderately, and, as they would say, ele- 
gantly, without becoming drunkards.” 

Their families know more about that 
than you or I do. There is a chance for a 
rich man to keep out of sight when he has 
been drinking too much, while a poor man 
is likely to be known for as bad as he is. It 
the whole truth was told, I think it would 
be found that there is as much hard drink- 
ing among the rich as among the poor; 
especially among women.” 

''You must be mistaken about that. 
Why, in some of our large cities, there are 
localities which fairly swarm with drunk- 
ards of the lowest type.” 

'* That is true, but our halls of State and 
National legislation have often been dis- 
graced with as low a type of drunkenness ; 
although the liquor drank was more costly, 
while the surroundings have made it in 
some ways less repulsive. Drunk \& drunk ; 
nothing more and nothing less. There was 
never so much liquor drank in this town, 
in the same length of time, as there has 


Miss Belindas Friends, 


168 

been in the last six months ; and so far 
as I know, hardly a man has stirred to op- 
pose it. The fight against it has begun 
with women who mean business, and I am 
expecting grand results.” 

I hope they will do good, 'though it is 
a new departure .for our women. But if I 
have been rightly informed, they were not 
first on the ground. Some boys organized 
a society before the women had their first 
meeting. They are poor, but they are in 
dead earnest, and they have Sabra Harris 
for adviser and helper ; so they can count 
on the doctor, of course. Sabra is the 
very apple of his eye.” 

She always has been ever since she was 
born, and no wonder. She is smart and 
.independent, besides meaning to do her 
duty as fast as she knows it. Her sister is 
the handsomest, but folks say Sabra more 
than makes up for that by her pleasant 
manners. She is the same to everybody, 
too, which marks her for the lady she 
really is. She is near the front in the 
woman's temperance society.” 


A Splendid Girl. 


169 


hope that society will do some good.” 

It will. There is no doubt about that. I 
suppose the women of your family are all 
enlisted ? ” 

‘‘Well — no, not yet. I thought they 
better wait and see what was best to do. 
Perhaps I have some old-fashioned notions, 
but I can’t quite bring myself to approve 
of all new ways. I must be going, however. 
Remember, I believe in temperance as 
strongly as anybody. Good-morning.” 

It was evident that Mr. Leland, who left 
his friend so abruptly, was not in favor of 
the woman’s temperance society. He had 
two sons, growing up to manhood, who 
needed every restraining influence which 
could be brought to bear upon them ; yet 
he allowed them to see that he thought it 
possible to be too radical on the temper- 
ance question. Moreover, he actually for- 
bade his daughters to have any part in the 
proposed measures against saloons. He 
did not allow them even a fair hearing in 
the matter. 

If father knew what we know, he would 


1 70 Miss Belindas Friends. 

feel differently/' remarked the elder. '' I 
am afraid the boys will go to destruction 
before his eyes, and he never suspect it 
until too late." 

Mr. Leland was not the only father who 
seemed unconscious of the danger threat- 
ening his family. There were many ; some 
who trusted to time and circumstance to 
correct the faults of youth ; while others, 
lax in their own principles and habits, saw 
no harm in an occasional lapse from rigid 
rules. 

The club-room still offered its attrac- 
tions to a select few ; yet so strong was 
the feeling against it in certain quarters, 
that some who had visited it once could 
not be induced to enter it again. Only 
once did the prayer-meeting miss the two 
singers upon whom so much depended ; 
and it was no secret that Sabra Harris had 
appealed to them in such a way, they had 
no wish to repeat the offence. 

When Elva comes home, we shall see 
what she will do," said Susan West to her 
brother, who felt himself personally injured 


A Splendid GirL 171 

by such interference. Her influence will 
partly counteract Sabra's.'' 

''Not a bit of it/' replied Angus West. 
" Sabra can pull a dozen strings where 
Elva can pull one. I don't know but she 
has a string in her hand which would pull 
me, if she thought it worth her while to try. 
She is a splendid girl." 

" Of course she is, but for all that she is 
a real fanatic. She condemns tobacco, as 
well as every kind of stimulant. I don't 
suppose she would drink a glass of wine if 
she knew it would save her life ; though, 
for my part, I can not get through a day 
without something to tone me up and give 
me strength." 

" Better be careful about that, Sue. If 
there is anything in the world to be de- 
spised, it is a tippling woman." 

" Why is she more to be despised than 
a tippling man ? I don’t believe you often 
go through a day without something 
stronger than tea or coffee." 

" Whatever I may do is no criterion for 
you. You need to be on your guard. I 


Miss Belinda s Friends. 


1 72 

have thought so before. I really believe 
you would be better off without toning up. 
Try it and see.’' 

'' Play teetotaler, do you mean ? ” 

‘‘Yes, I mean just that.” 

“ I will agree to it when you will. Let 
me know when you sign the magic pledge, 
and my name shall appear next to yours.” 

“ Pshaw, Sue, I don’t need to sign any 
pledge.” 

“ No more do I, so let us hear no more 
of it.” 

The brother went out, returning in 
about an hour, to say that Elva Harris was 
at home, having arrived the previous 
evening. 

“ Come with me to call on her,” re- 
sponded Susan West, who added, a mo- 
ment later, with something like triumph in 
her voice : “ It will never do for you to go 
with such a breath. Sabra Harris would 
know in a minute that you have been 
drinking wine. It is inconvenient to have 
such scrupulous friends, but I don’t quite 
like to give them up.” 


A Splendid GirL 


173 


Susan West went alone to the house of 
Dr. Harris, where she found Elva, whom 
she complimented upon improved appear- 
ance ; asking in the same breath : 

Why did you stay so long in the 
country, when you knew we were all pin- 
ing to see you ? I am afraid you enjoyed 
it too well.” 

'' I did enjoy my visit, but I stayed a 
week longer than I intended, for the sake 
of going to a temperance picnic.” 

• ‘‘ A temperance picnic ! ” repeated Susan 
• West. 

''Yes; a temperance picnic. I don't 
wonder you are surprised ; but while I was 
away I joined a woman's temperance so- 
ciety, and this evening I expect to join 
another. So I give you fair warning, that 
I shall preach temperance in season and 
out of season. I expect to eclipse Sabra, 
as a reformer.” 

"For mercy sake, don't preach to me. 
Our friendship would never stand the 
strain. How can you make yourself so 
singular ? ” 


174 Miss Belinda s Friends. 

I should have been singular had I re- 
fused to join the temperance society while 
at grandmother’s. You know who the 
Leightons are ? ” 

‘‘Yes; I met Miss Helen Leighton and 
her brother at the beach last summer.” 

“ Well, he is a perfect sot ; so bad, that 
his father has taken him to a private asy- 
lum, where it will be impossible for him to 
obtain a drop of liquor of any kind. I 
never was so shocked in my life, as when 
I heard he was such a drunkard.” 

“ But how could liis father shut him up ? 
He must be of age, and he certainly is not 
insane.” 

“ He has an insane appetite for liquor. 
I don’t know by what authority his father 
can confine him, but of course Mr. Leigh- 
ton understands the law.” 

“Of course he does. But I thought 
Morley Leighton was engaged to a Miss 
Ainsworth. I saw them together, and 
they seemed devoted to each other. Some 
one said they had been engaged since they 
were children.” 


A Splendid Girl 


175 


'' I presume they had, but the engage- 
ment is broken. Patty Ainsworth became 
a Christian ; and after that, she began to 
think what her life might be with such a 
man as Morley Leighton, until she decided 
that she could not trust him/' 

'' So she broke her engagement for a 
mere whim. I thought Christians pro- 
fessed to keep their promises.” 

‘'They do; but Patty Ainsworth could 
not marry a drunkard.” 

“ Morley Leighton could never be a 
common drunkard, with his manners and 
his education. Besides, she could have 
influenced him after they were married. 
Suppose every woman made up her mind 
not to marry a man who was not a teeto- 
taler. What then ? ” 

“What then? There would be fewer 
wretched, poverty - stricken families, and 
the world would be the gainer by so 
much.” 

“ Is there a clause in the constitution of 
your society forbidding a member to marry, 
a man who does not give his conscience 


176 Miss Belindas Friends, 

into her keeping?’' asked Susan West 
with a sneer ; adding, before she could be 
answered : If so, I wish you joy of a set 
of milksops. No man of any spirit would 
submit to such conditions.” 

'‘You don’t understand it as I do, and 
we had better say no more about it,” re- 
plied Elva ; her face flushing at the inso- 
lent tone of her companion. 

" Sabra, I have made a clean breast of 
it ; told the very worst there was to tell, 
and lived through the outburst of Susan 
West’s scorn,” said the younger sister halt 
an hour later. " She left me without a 
single sweet effusion, and I can solace 
myself with the thought that I shall be 
counted unworthy of any further atten- 
tion from her. I hoped you would come 
in while she was here.” 

While saying this, Elva was turning to 
the wall the motto upon which she had 
spent so much time, and when it could be 
no longer seen, she exclaimed: 

• "There! If I can not have a better 
motto, I will have none.” 


A Splendid Girl 


177 


I will share mine with you/^ responded 
Sabra ; her face lighting up with a rare, 
sweet smile. 

'' I don’t know as I am quite ready for 
that. But I have learned that when one 
begins to think seriously about some one 
thing, all other things take on a more 
serious look. I really believe that a great 
many people never stop to think that life 
is more than a holiday. If they did, they 
could not go on as they do.” 

I went to grandmother’s to get away 
from so much talk* about temperance, and 
your ' duty,’ but there was as much serious 
talk there as here. I have come back, de- 
termined to study it all out for myself, and 
then decide what to do. I believe now in 
working for temperance.” 

Sometime you will believe in working 
for religion. Then we can work together, 
heart and hand, and I have no doubt your 
part of the work will be the better done. 
You have not learned yet of what you are 
capable.” 


12 


CHAPTER XIV. 


A HARD PLACE. 

Teddy Fritter had so far accomplished 
his purpose, that twelve boys were pledged 
to total abstinence ; every one of whom 
was provided with a temperance paper, to 
be carefully read and then passed on to 
others. It was surprising how rapidly these 
papers were distributed in families where 
they were almost the only influence for 
good. 

Little Pat Reegan, who was just learn- 
ing to form words into sentences, studied 
them with his cousin, Micky McGill, and 
then went home to tell Janie all he could 
remember of the stories and pictures ; 
wishing always that he was a man, so that 
he could make folks stop drinking the bad 
stuff. 

'' I am going to, now I tell you,” he 

( 578 ) 


A Hard Place, 


179 


would say, clenching his hands and stamp- 
ing his feet. Father is awful wicked, and 
I should think he would be afraid to stay 
in the dark a single minute.’' 

But the father seemed neither to care 
nor fear what might happen, if he could 
only add a dollar to his gains. These gains 
were less than he had anticipated ; which 
fact made him morose and sullen ; even 
Janie sometimes suffering from his ill-tem- 
per. Perhaps nothing else angered him so 
much as the small temperance saloon, which 
every Saturday evening was in good run- 
ning order, on Mr. Hover’s broad step. 

Lemonade and peanuts had met a ready 
sale, while the venders had become well 
known as honest, reliable boys, who would 
make a good use of every penny they could 
honestly earn. Many would walk quite a 
long distance for the sake of patronizing 
them, and when they added to their wares 
a supply of small cakes, made by Mrs. Frit- 
ter according to one of Miss Belinda’s rules, 
their sales were largely increased. 

We can’t sell lemonade in cold 


i8o 


Miss Belindas Friends, 


weather,’' said Micky, as he and his part- 
ner huddled themselves together in the 
corner to avoid a pelting rain. 

‘‘ Got any hot coffee ? ” shouted a man 
hurrying by ; and being answered in the 
negative, responded : 

You are behind the times. A man 
needs something to warm him up, in such 
a storm as this.” 

‘‘That is it,” exclaimed Teddy. “We 
must have coffee. I have read about keep- 
ing it hot over a little stove or a lamp, and 
we can find out exactly how to do it. We 
will ask Mr. Hover if he is willing.” 

Mr. Hover was not only willing, but 
he made the necessary arrangements him- 
self, and purchased the first cup of coffee 
they offered for sale. Dr. Harris, too, 
patronized them ; his example being fol- 
lowed by others who wished to encourage 
so laudable an enterprise. Nothing oc- 
curred to mar the prosperity of the young 
merchants, until Micky was taken sud- 
denly ill, and Teddy was left alone on the 
broad step. 


A Hard Place, i8i 

There Elva Harris saw him, as she was 
driving past with her father, who had just 
come from visiting Micky. They stopped 
for a moment, and, observing that custom- 
ers were impatient at being obliged to wait, 
Elva sprang from the carriage and offered 
her assistance while her father waited. 
Everybody then wished to buy ; so that 
Teddy’s stock was soon exhausted, and he 
was ready to go home. 

'' I did not stop to think how it would 
look,” she said, when telling her sister 
what she had done. '' Father made no 
objection, and I could see that the poor 
boy was at his wit’s end to know what to 
do. I sold a cup of coffee and four cakes 
to a man who ate and drank as though he 
was half starved, and who told me he 
would have spent his money for liquor, if 
he had not seen Teddy’s lantern.” 

It was almost the last thing I should 
have expected you to do ; but if father ap- 
proved, it was all right,” replied Sabra. 

‘‘ I think it was all right. When I made 
up my mind to help everybody 1 could, I 


i 82 


Miss Belinda s Friends, 


did not limit myself to any particular ways 
and means. So if I am to sell cakes 
and coffee, I shall not shirk the duty. I 
keep thinking about that poor man. I 
wish I knew something more about him. 
When I came away, he was curled up in 
the corner opposite Teddy’s stand, and 
looked as though he intended to spend 
the night there. I didn’t think so much 
about it then, but I will ask father to look 
after him in the morning.” 

‘‘What of Micky McGill?” 

“Poor Micky; I had almost forgotten 
him. He is very sick, and father says his 
mother knows nothing about nursing. He 
says, too, that all the regular nurses are 
busy, so I don’t know what will be done.” 

Dr. Harris left home early the next 
morning, before his daughter saw him, so 
he knew nothing of the man in the cor- 
ner. Micky McGill was decidedly worse 
than on the previous evening. Sick of a 
contagious and much-dreaded disease, 
nothing but the best of nursing would save 
him. In this emergency Mrs. McGill was 


A Hard Place, 183 

helpless, while her husband was worse 
than helpless; although, as he said, with 
true Irish earnestness, he was ready to 
pay pound for pound for the boy who was 
the light of his eyes. 

Dr. Harris considered, and then went to 
Miss Belinda for help. 

'' I knew you would be safe from con- 
tagion, and I could think of no one else,” 
he said, after stating the case. 

I shall be glad to go,” she answered. 
'' I am able to do more active work, and I 
have had a good deal of experience with 
that disease. Micky, too, is one of my 
favorites. But, doctor, there is some one 
in the barn for you to visit. Teddy took 
a man home with him last night. He 
thought a bed on the hay was better than 
no bed at all. I am sure the man has not 
gone, unless he went before daylight. 
Y ou will know better what to say to him 
than, any one here.” 

'' I will look after him while you are 
getting ready to go with me,” answered 
the doctor. 


184 Miss Belindas Friends. 

Miss Belinda had waited several min- 
utes before Dr. Harris returned. When 
he opened the door of her room, he asked 
abruptly : 

'' Do you remember Luke Mooney, who 
lived with his uncle at the Pines, and who 
attended our school one winter ? 

'' I do remember him.’' 

‘'You have reason to remember him 
with no feelings of kindness, but he is too 
much an object of pity, now, to be re- 
garded with any feelings of resentment. 
I have just seen him. It was he Teddy 
took home last evening. I will engage 
Mrs. Fritter to provide him with food, 
and Henry Bedlow and Teddy to watch 
him, so he will not leave the premises. 
He has spent a good fortune, and is now, 
as he says himself, an outcast and a vaga- 
bond.” 

"Luke Mooney come to that,” mur- 
mured Miss Belinda. " May God pity 
and forgive him. He is no better than a 
drunkard’s daughter. Of all my school- 
mates, he was the one I dreaded most to 


A Hard Place. 


185 


meet; he taunted me so with my poverty, 
ridiculing my dress, and telling me I was 
not fit to be among decent people. I 
hated him.'’ 

‘'No wonder you did; but you could 
not hate him now. He is too far down 
for that. He says he paid Elva his last 
cent for cakes and coffee. He owned that 
he was going to a saloon for liquor, but 
seeing Teddy’s lantern, and a woman in 
such a strange place, he stopped.” 

Luke Mooney was Indeed a pitiable ob- 
ject. He had suffered so much, and been 
treated so roughly, that the kindness of 
Dr. Harris quite won his confidence ; but 
the moment he was left alone, all his old 
recklessness returned. 

He refused to enter the house for break- 
fast, insisting that he was not hungry ; yet 
when food was carried to him, he ate 
greedily. Then he was ready to move on ; 
but so many objections were made to this, 
and he was so closely watched, that he 
saw no way of escape. Teddy had re- 
ceived such strict orders, it was not until 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


i86 

late in the afternoon that he relaxed his 
vigilance ; when he reported to Dr. Har- 
ris, and at the same time inquired for 
Micky. 

It was sad news for Teddy, when told 
that his friend was dangerously sick ; but 
he comforted himself, as he said confi- 
dently : 

“ If Micky dies, he will go to heaven. 
I know he will, because he loves God and 
the Saviour. He knows his sins are all for- 
given, and he won’t be afraid to die.” 

The father thought only of himself, cry- 

ing: 

“ What will I do ! I can’t live without 
my boy. Save him, doctor, and I’ll go 
down on my knees to you. I’ll be your 
servant to the end of my life. Save him, 
and I’ll never taste the liquor again as 
long as I live.” 

Then he broke forth into a lament, 
hardly intelligible to those who heard it, 
appealing to Miss Belinda not to leave 
them, and promising her the most extrava- 
gant reward if she would stay. 


A Hard Place, 


187 


She seemed to have no choice. Within 
twenty-four hours, another child was 
stricken down, and the lives of the two, 
so far as human means were of avail, were 
in her hands. Dr. Harris prescribed and 
advised, yet left much to her own discretion. 

The parents did her bidding ; ready, 
when the crisis was passed, and they knew 
their children would live, to fall at her feet 
and worship her. Another was then 
found to take her place, and she went to 
her home to rest. 

Until then she had not thought to ask 
of Luke Mooney, but she now recalled 
what she had last known of him. 

I could not keep him,’' said the doctor 
in answer to her questions. I gave him 
a warm suit of clothes, but it would not 
surprise me to know that he had bartered 
them for liquor. I could do nothing more 
for him. He realizes what he has lost and 
what he may suffer ; but he assured me, 
again and again, that he had no power to 
resist his appetite. We can only pray for 
him.” 


Jkfzss Belinda s Friends. 


1 88 

“ Has he a family? 

When I asked him that question, he 
did not answer me. I am afraid he has.'’ 

If he has, how terrible life must be for 
them. People are afraid of a great many 
things, but there is a terror in the fear a 
drunkard’s family feels when they hear 
him coming. I hope and pray the Lord 
will let me do something toward prevent- 
ing so much drunkenness. I am so thank- 
ful to be better ; and, doctor, if you know 
of a hard place, where I can work to advan- 
tage, tell me, and I will do the best I can.” 

She had not long to wait, although it 
was not Dr. Harris who called her to 
work. She had been at home but two 
days, when Mrs. Reegan came to her in 
almost breathless haste, begging her to 
'"come and see Janie.” 

She has fretted that much about Sun- 
day-school and her teacher, she was nigh 
sick before, but now she is like Micky,” 
said the weeping mother. ‘‘ It all comes 
of the saloon and the drink that’s sold 
there. My husband was that kind and 


A Hard Place. 


189 


pleasant, when he was working fair and 
honest, and bringing me his wages regu- 
lar every Saturday night; taking a drop 
maybe with a friend, but never enough to 
hurt him or me. Now it is money he 
wants, and the drink too. He is taking 
to that more every day, until I am nigh 
crazed. O lady, do fight the liquor. If 
my Janie dies, Fd be glad to die, too, 
only for little Pat and the others. The 
liquor is just like a murdering knife, cut- 
ting out the heart of him that drinks it 
and of them that belong to him.” 

Miss Belinda did not need to be urged 
to accompany the almost distracted woman. 
She had known for weeks that Janie Ree- 
gan was far from well, yet she was wholly 
unprepared for so great a change in the 
once happy, healthy child. She saw at 
once that no mortal power could avail to 
save the life fast going out. 

‘‘ Her father wouldn’t send for the doc- 
tor, so I went for you,” said Mrs. Reegan, 
as she eagerly scanned the face of her com- 
panion. 


190 Miss Belinda! s Friends. 

“ Let me see your husband,” responded 
Miss Belinda. 

“ He is in the saloon, and I wouldn’t 
dare call him,” answered the wife. 

“ I will see him myself. I have some- 
thing to say to him.” 

The now really terrified mother at- 
tempted to dissuade Miss Belinda from 
thus braving her husband’s anger, but the 
message to be delivered admitted of no 
delay. Mr. Reegan had just raised a glass 
of liquor to his lips, when a woman opened 
the door of his saloon, and said deliber- 
ately : 

“ Janie is dying.” 

“ Dying ! Dying ! ” repeated the father. 
“ I don’t believe it. You and her mother 
have trumped up that story, to scare me 
into sending for Dr. Harris ; but I never 
will do it. I have had enough of him and 
them that belong to him. There is the 
door, and the sooner you go out of it, the 
better.” 

“ Janie is dying.” 

Something in the tone In which these 


A Hard Place. 


191 

words were uttered, for the second time, 
made It impossible for him to reply as be- 
fore. 

“ I can’t believe It. I am sure Janie will 
soon be better. I will go and see her,” 
he said sullenly. 

As Miss Belinda left the saloon, he fol- 

♦ 

lowed quickly, passing her on the stairs 
leading to his home. Stopping for a mo- 
ment just outside the door of the room in 
which his little daughter lay, he heard her 
say in a husky voice : 

'' Don't cry, mother. I am so tired, I 
can't do any good staying here ; and I 
think Jesus is going to take me to live 
with Him. If I could see teacher before I 
go, I should be so glad ; but I shall see 
her in heaven. Father won’t let me talk 
to him, but I know he loves me, and when 
I am gone, tell him I loved him all the 
same, if he did make me so sorry. 

''Tell him not to keep the wicked place 
open any longer ; and tell him, too, not to 
drink the wicked stuff any more. — I am so 
tired ; but tell little Pat " 


CHAPTER XV. 


A SALOON CLOSED. 

Mr. Reegan did not stay to hear Janie's 
message to little Pat. Instantly the truth 
flashed upon him. His darling child was 
sick — perhaps unto death — and he had 
refused to believe it. 

He plunged down the stairs into the 
street, and unmindful of those who sought 
to detain him, hurried to the house of Dr. 
Harris : where, panting for breath, and 
overwhelmed with grief, it was with diffi- 
culty he could make himself understood. 
Stopping only for an assurance that he 
would be quickly followed, he rushed 
home; and going at once to Janie’s room, 
he kneeled by her bedside and reached 
out his arms to draw her closer to him. 

There he asked her forgiveness for hav- 
ing grieved her, promising to do in future 

(192) 


A Saloon Closed, 


193 


whatever she wished. She should go to 
Sunday-school, and have all the papers 
she wanted. Little Pat should have some 
new clothes and go with her. 

'' And will you shut up the bad place ? ” 
asked the child, thridding her thin fingers 
through her father’s shaggy beard. 

Yes, if you want it shut,” he replied. 

I am so glad, but it will be after I am 
gone, father. I am so tired, I want to rest. 
I can’t stay here ; but you’ll be good to 
mother, won’t you ? She’ll miss me, and 
so will little Pat and the rest.” 

‘‘ Hush, child, don’t be talking of not 
staying. Pve been hard with you. I’ll 
never forgive myself; but you’ll forgive 
me, won’t you, Janie, and I’ll make it all 
up to you.” 

While father and child were thus talk- 
ing, Mrs. Reegan sat in an adjoining room, 
weaving to and fro, and stifling her sobs as 
best she could; while Miss Belinda listen- 
ed for any call which might be made for 
her. 

There were steps on the stairs, and Dr. 
13 


194 Miss Belindas Friends, 

Harris came in with his daughter. Janie 
was overjoyed to see her teacher, but her 
strength was so nearly exhausted, she 
could speak only in broken sentences. 

“Save my girl, and name your own 
price, and I’ll live on bread and water to 
pay you,” cried Mr. Reegan, giving place 
to the doctor. 

“ I can not save your child’s life,” said 
Dr. Harris soon after. “You must give 
her up. She is going beyond us, to the 
Heaven where you and I may meet her if 
we are found worthy.” 

“Then I have killed her,” wailed the 
father. “ I have killed her for the money 
and the drink, and it’s cursed I am for- 
ever and ever.” 

Hush,” said Sabra Harris, bending 
close to the dying girl, to catch her faintly 
murmured words. 

“ Angels, — music. Don’t you hear them 
singing? Beautiful, beautiful. Tell them 
not to be sorry. Little children. Jesus, 
take me.” 

The voice grew fainter, then ceased al- 


A Saloon Closed, 


195 


together. Janie Reegan was dead. One 
moment her father protested that it could 
not be; the next he reproached himself 
for having killed her. 

Miss Belinda at last persuaded him to 
go to his wife, who was stunned by the 
blow which had fallen upon her, but she 
turned away from him. It was not until little 
Pat and the younger children came in from 
a neighbor s room, that she seemed to real- 
ize there was work and duty still remaining. 

Later, the door of the saloon was locked, 
the window shutters closed and securely 
fastened. Little Pat, who had kept close 
to his father while this was done, said as 
they were going up the stairs : 

You made a mistake. That was what 
Janie used to say, and she told me to tell 
you if you asked God to forgive you. He 
would, if you didn’t do so any more.” 

It was a great concession on the part of 
Mr. Reegan, and one for which he was 
severely censured, that he allowed a Prot- 
estant clergyman to officiate at his little 
daughter’s funeral. 


196 Miss Belmdas Friends, 

'"He was Janie's priest; and if I went 
against her when she was alive, I’ll not do 
it now she is dead,” was the reply he 
made to a friend who remonstrated with 
him. 

Indeed, the arrangements for the funeral 
were made by Miss Belinda and Miss Har- 
ris at his request. The Sunday-school 
class of which she was a member fol- 
lowed her to the grave, strewing her cof- 
fin with flowers, and singing a tender 
farewell to the first of their number who 
had passed over the river.” 

How or when the old saloon was 
cleared of its contents was known but to 
him who chose to keep it a profound se- 
cret. No one bought either fixtures or 
liquors ; yet within a week, there appeared 
in the window a notice that the premises 
were to let. 

One saloon is closed, and now is our 
time to look out for the others,” said Ted- 
dy Fritter, going into Miss Belinda’s room, 
made brighter even than in summer, with 
flowering plants and autumn leaves. 


A Saloon Closed. 


197 


‘‘We boys are going into every saloon 
in town, all together, and ask the men 
not to sell any more liquor. Don’t 
you believe that will do some good, 
Martin ? ” 

Martin purred his assent ; rubbing 
against Teddy, and seeming anxious to 
express his approbation of the plan. 

“ I hope it will do a great deal of good,’’ 
remarked Miss Belinda. 

“I hope so, too,” answered Teddy. “I 
told Miss Harris, and she said she would 
pray for us. Perhaps the saloon-keepers 
will be mad, but we are going to-morrow 
morning. Now it is vacation from school, 
all the boys can go as well as not. We 
have been waiting for Micky, because he 
isn’t any more afraid to talk than I am. I 
shall want somebody to help me.” 

The twelve clean, well-dressed boys 
made a really fine appearance, as they 
marched through the streets, the next 
morning, calling at the different saloons. 

“Who on earth sent you here?” was^ 
the first salutation they received. 


198 Miss Belindas Friends, 


''We sent ourselves,” replied Teddy, 
repeating the request already made. 

" You look like a company of young pil- 
grims. Where are you going? ” 

" Going to a better land,” said Micky, 
with due seriousness. 

" Then how can you afford to stop on 
the way ? ” 

" We stopped to take you along with 

ff 

us. 

" What have the rest of you to say for 
yourselves ? ” now asked the saloon-keeper, 
looking sharply along the line. 

" We are a temperance society, and — ” 

" Oh ! I begin to understand, and you 
are a pretty good looking society, too. 
Here, John, treat this society to beer and 
cigars.” 

" We wouldn’t touch them,” cried several 
voices, and at a sign from Teddy, they 
marched out of the saloon in as good order 
as they had entered. 

Thus they visited every saloon in town ; 
in only one of which did they receive any 
encouragement. 


A Saloon Closed, 


199 


I have been thinking about it,” said the 
middle - aged man standing behind the 
counter. '' Selling liquor is a bad busi- 
ness, and if my boy had lived, I wouldn't 
have him see me here, for all the money I 
shall ever make. I never sell to boys any- 
way. I wouldn’t be guilty of taking money 
from them.” 

'' But, Mister, some of the men you sell 
to have boys and girls at home, who have 
to go hungry because you take their fa- 
ther’s money,” answered Teddy. 

“ I have thought of that, and I know it 
is wrong to take what they need. I am 
glad you are all going to start right. I 
would stop selling to-day if the rest would ; 
but if I don’t sell, somebody else will, so 
it wouldn’t make any difference.” 

It would make lots of difference with 
you,” responded Micky. ‘'You would be 
a better man, and God wouldn’t be so 
angry with you. He knows how wicked 
you are, and how wicked the stuff you sell 
makes other men. I guess this is where 
my father used to come, but he won’t come 


200 Miss Belinda s Friends, 

here any more. He is square temperance, 
now, and so good, it don’t seem as though 
he was the same father he used to be.” 

‘'What is your name?” asked the pro- 
prietor. 

“ Micky McGill, sir.” 

“Ah! yes; I remember McGill. I 
haven’t seen him lately.” 

“No more will you in such a place as 
this. He has promised, and put his name 
to it ; and we have a great deal better 
things at our house than we used to have.” 

“ I am glad of it.” 

“You aren’t half as glad as I am. 
Other folks could have good things, too, 
if there didn’t anybody sell liquor and to- 
bacco. That is what makes folks so poor 
and cross. Father don’t scold as he used 
to. Please don’t sell any more liquor.” 

Out again into the street. Two hotels 
remained to be visited, and although it re- 
quired some courage to meet the landlords, 
they did so, and received more considerate 
treatment than they had dared to expect. 

The task accomplished they had set 


A Saloon Closed, 


201 


themselves to do, they drew long breaths 
of relief ; feeling that whatever might be 
the result, they had been governed by a 
sense of duty. Teddy had already learned 
that reforms move slowly, so he was not 
disappointed when he knew that, despite 
their efforts, the saloons continued in full 
blast. 

Their work, however, was supplemented 
by the young ladies of the woman’s tem- 
perance society, who resolved themselves 
into committees of two, and called at every 
place where liquor was known to be sold. 
The social position and refined manners of 
these young ladies secured them the con- 
sideration they deserved, while their pleas 
and arguments were unanswerable. With 
them they carried a pledge, to which they 
solicited signers ; asking every one they 
met in the saloons, proprietors as well as 
customers. 

I am ready to give up,” said the man 
with whom the boys had talked longest. 

I won’t wait for another society to call 
on me. Give me the pledge and I’ll sign 


202 


Miss Belindas Friends, 


it on the spot/’ Having done this, he 
added : Wait and see me tear down my 

name over the door and shut up shop.” 

To some loungers, smoking lazily by the 
stove, he said : 

''You can stay here long enough to 
sign the temperance pledge, and then you 
must be going.” 

" Guess we sha’n’t do that in a hurry,” 
replied one. " We .ain’t ready to sign 
away our liberty, because some pretty girls 
think they know better what we need than 
we know ourselves.” 

" Enough of that. There is all outdoors 
for you to stay in and the loungers 
moved out ; looking back, however, to see 
the old saloon shut up. 

At the next regular meeting the com- 
mittees made their reports, which were 
considered encouraging, notwithstanding 
but one saloon had been closed. The 
subject of temperance was generally dis- 
cussed. Many who had been wholly in- 
different were beginning to regard it as 
worthy of consideration. 


A Saloon Closed. 


203 


Temperance literature was circulated in 
such a way as to insure its being read. 
Facts and statistics were collected which 
startled even those accustomed to regard 
liquor-selling and liquor-drinking as the 
crying sins of the age. 

Let us have a meeting in the town 
hall, and tell people these things,” said 
Elva Harris, who was universally acknowl- 
edged to be the most enthusiastic worker 
in the ranks. Read the lists of figures to 
them, and then enforce the lesson to be 
learned. It is not possible that people 
will live on, as they do now, when they 
once comprehend what a monopoly the 
liquor interest is. I move that we have a 
public meeting, and conduct it ourselves, 
depending entirely upon home talent.” 

‘‘ But who will speak ? ” asked one. 

Every one of us, if necessary,” was 
replied. Our president is able to do her 
part well, and the other members must do 
as well as they can. Perhaps the motion 
would come with better grace from some 
one older, but I wish to have it considered.” 


204 Miss Belinda s Friends, 

It was considered, accepted, and neces- 
sary arrangements made. It required 
some discrimination to assign the parts 
where they would be well sustained, but 
this was finally done, and a notice given 
of the meeting, which it was decided should 
continue only for an hour. 

The hall was crowded. The opening 
exercises were conducted in such a man- 
ner that no one could presume to criticise 
them. There was singing, led by Sabra 
Harris, who was never in better voice. 
The prayer offered by Mrs. Eastwood 
was short, comprehensive, and fervent. 

The time was principally occupied by 
young ladies, who found it easier to read 
from the written page than to speak with- 
out notes ; yet this detracted nothing from 
the force of what they had to say. 

It was a solid array of facts from first 
to last ; facts stated so clearly and dis- 
tinctly, that every one in the large audi- 
ence could hear and understand. People 
wondered at their ignorance of the mon- 
ster evil which is gradually sapping the life 
of our nation. 


A Saloon Closed. 


205 


When, at the close of the meeting, there 
was an opportunity for signing a pledge 
of total abstinence, and also for joining 
the woman’s temperance society, a large 
number of names were obtained, which 
augured well for success in the future. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


INHERITED. 

Many of the men in the audience lin- 
gered until the secretary of the woman's 
temperance society had taken her book 
and papers from the table and prepared 
to leave the hall, when Mr. Ryeland 
said : 

‘‘ Now it is our turn. If we have not 
heard enough, this evening, to arouse us 
to a sense of our duty, we must be dull 
indeed. I move that we organize a so- 
ciety, now and here, for the suppression of 
liquor-selling in our midst.” 

I second the motion,” rejoined Dr. 
Harris. 

Moved and seconded, the motion was 
carried by acclamation, and Mr. Ryeland 
appointed chairman of the meeting. There 
was no need of speeches or discussions. 

(206 


Inherited, 


207 


The organization was quickly effected, 
with the chairman as president, and 
younger men filling other offices. A cler- 
gyman invoked God’s blessing upon the 
new society, and the meeting was closed. 
This, however, seemed a signal for gen- 
eral conversation, in which opinions were 
freely exchanged. 

'' It appears that, after all our boasted 
independence, we are at the mercy of 
brewers and distillers,” remarked a gentle- 
man, who had been disposed to regard 
any innovations as unwise and unnecessary. 
“ I never should have taken the trouble to 
study up what we have heard this even- 
ing ; but the young ladies had all the au- 
thorities at their tongues’ end. If what 
they said is true — and I suppose it must 
be — no wonder our jails and prisons and 
poorhouses are full of criminals and pau- 
pers. No wonder our taxes are high, and 
our towns and cities filled with families 
half clothed and half fed. For my part, I 
am ashamed of having done nothing to- 
wards stopping this infamous business.” 


2o8 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


“It is infamous. There is no mistake 
about that,” responded one of a group 
gathered around the speaker. Many of 
the men engaged in it are ashamed to have 
it known.” 

I wouldn't engage in a business I was 
ashamed of.” 

''But the profits. There is no other 
legitimate business which pays as large a 
profit for the money invested.” 

" Legitimate ! Do you call the business 
legitimate ? ” 

" Certainly. It is protected by the laws 
of our country, and is the source of an im- 
mense revenue to our government.” 

" It is the source of an immense loss to 
the country, not to be computed in dollars 
and cents, but in human lives and human 
happiness.” 

" It is bad enough, as everybody knows, 
but we can’t do much, except right here at 
home ; and the boys and women have 
forestalled us in that.” 

A few ladies, who waited to see what 
would be done, felt repaid for all the ef- 


Inherited, 


209 


forts they had made, in knowing that their 
example had moved husbands, fathers, and 
brothers to look around with more ob- 
servant eyes. 

“ If there had been such an awakening 
in the town where I lived, when I was a 
young girl, it would have been worth 
everything to me,’' said Miss Belinda to 
Miss Harris. ‘‘ I am thankful it is coming 
to others, but I can not help wishing it had 
come to me. I should like to see the old town 
once more, and attend one of the temper- 
ance meetings. I keep wondering about it.” 

'' Grandmother Harris will tell you 
about it when she comes. She remembers 
you and will be glad to see you.” 

1 shall be glad to see her. I remem- 
ber her as one of my kindest friends. I 
have carried home many a pail of milk 
from her pantry, when there was not much 
else for my supper; and she always gave 
it to me, as though I was doing her a favor 
to take it.” 

“ That was Grandmother Harris’ way,” 
replied her namesake. 

14 


210 


Afzss Belindas Friends, 


It was a way, too, which had not 
changed. When she met Belinda Mann, 
she talked far more of favors received 
than of favors bestowed. 

I remember you as always ready to 
lend me a helping hand,” she said kindly. 

I have often wished since for such help 
as you used to give me. I was very glad 
when I heard you were living here, able 
to provide comfortably for yourself It is 
a great deal to do that, but Sabra tells me 
you do more. You are helping others.” 

I try, but it is not much I can do.” 

If you do what you can, that is all the 
Lord requires of you. He is sure to re- 
quire that of every one of us. We have 
no right to hide even one talent in a nap- 
kin. I am expecting great results for 
temperance, now that women have come 
to the rescue.” 

In reply to some questions in regard to 
Morley Leighton, Mrs. Harris said: ^ 

'' He is supposed to be in confinement, 
in some private asylum, although the 
family arc careful not to speak of him. 


Inherited. 


21 T 


Some people think that is not the way to 
reform him ; but if he belonged to me, I 
should not know what to do/' 

Mr. Leighton knew no more than his 
neighbors, yet it had seemed imperative 
that he should do something. As a last 
resort, and by a stretch of authority, war- 
ranted only by the terrible necessity, he 
had done what then seemed to him best. 
But he was by no means satisfied, as he 
himself acknowledged. 

Not long after his mother’s arrival. 
Dr. Harris received a call from his old 
schoolmate and friend, who, when they 
were by themselves, said in a voice, every 
intonation of which expressed the deepest 
sorrow and anxiety : 

'' I have come to you for advice ; and if 
the cure of inebriety is in your line, I have 
a patient for you. As I presume you know, 
my son, Morley, is a besotted drunkard. 
There is no softening the repulsive fact. 
Can you recommend any treatment likely 
to reform and save him ? I have done all 
in my power to do ; and here I am, help- 


212 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


less, and almost hopeless. Can you give 
me either help or hope ? 

I wish I could,'* replied Dr. Harris. 

Of course, you have appealed to your 
son, and used all possible arguments to 
induce him to change his course ? " 

‘H have, and he has promised me again 
and again to give up his drinking habits ; 
but I am beginning to doubt if he can do it. 
His appetite for liquor seems to be an 
overmastering passion. He has sacrificed 
everything for it." 

There must be a limit to the sacrifice 
he will make." 

'' I am afraid not, doctor. Do you be- 
lieve in inherited tendencies ? " 

'' Most certainly I do ; and to my mind 
there is nothing else which gives so solemn 
a significance to life, as the thought that 
those who are to come after us, even to the 
third and fourth generation, may suffer for 
our sinful habits. It is enough to make a 
man shudder at the responsibilities he often 
takes upon himself without a single con- 
sideration for the future." 


Inherited, 


213 


Well, doctor, I have never spoken of 
it, but my wife’s grandfather was a com- 
mon drunkard at the time her father was 
born. His children had such a horror of 
the poverty and degradation of drunken- 
ness, that no one of them followed his ex- 
ample ; but Morley has many traits of 
character like him. In such a case, what 
can be done ? ” 

‘'Your pardon, friend; but what could 
have been done, and what can now be 
done are two very different things. If I 
feared any such influence in my family, I 
should teach my children, from the very 
first, to what danger they were exposed, 
and insist upon a rigid self-control.” 

“ That is what we did not do. I never 
thought total abstinence necessary to me, 
and neither did my wife ; so we have con- 
formed to the general usage and taken an 
occasional glass of wine, when with others 
who had no scruples against it. My wife, 
too, prided herself on her home-made 
wines, without thinking that she was doing 
her family an injury. We began wrong 


214 Miss Belinda's Friends. 

with Morley. Now, is it possible for us to 
begin over again and begin right ? Can 
the appetite for alcoholic drinks be de- 
stroyed by the use of drugs ? ” 

“ I should have no faith in drugs for such 
a purpose, although others may know more 
about it than I do. Of course, some stimu- 
lating, yet harmless drink, will in part sat- 
isfy the craving when it becomes too intol- 
erable to be borne ; but I have yet to 
learn that the appetite can ever be de- 
stroyed by antidotes. There are claims to 
such cures, but to me they do not seem 
well authenticated. In such cases, I should 
depend entirely upon a firm will, avoidance 
of temptation, and the help which comes 
from above in answer to prayer.” 

“ Dr. Harris, will you take Morley under 
your care for six months, and see what you 
can do for him ? That is the question I 
came here to ask you. I am ready to pay 
you one, two, three thousand dollars, or 
more, if you will take him and do by him 
as you would if he was your own son. If 
you could save him, I would willingly give 


Inherited, 


215 


you the whole of my fortune, and then go 
to work and earn another. Will you take 
him ? ” 

'' I am sorry to deny you, my friend, but 
I dare not assume so much responsibility. 
If you have failed, my efforts would surely 
be fruitless. Is there no one in the world 
who can influence him ? 

No one,'’ answered the father, sadly. 

Patty Ainsworth has discarded him, and 
since then he seems more reckless than 
ever before. I blamed her at first. I 
thought she ought to feel bound to marry 
him and do what she could to reform him ; 
but I have changed my mind about that. 
She is too good a girl to be sacrificed to a 
drunkard or to be the mother of a drunk- 
ard's children.” 

‘‘Any girl is too good for that, Mr. 
Leighton.” 

“ Yes ; but Patty is better than the aver- 
age. She has been so petted and indulged 
in every wish of her heart, that no one 
really knew what she could do ; but she 
joined the church about a year ago, and 


2i6 


Afiss Belindas Friends, 


since then she has developed wonderfully. 
If there is a Christian in that church she is 
one. She is a radical reformer, too. 

My wife says she does more temper- 
ance work than any other dozen members 
of the society. She has already reformed 
the worst drunkard, except Morley, in town, 
and she has carried attractive temperance 
literature to every house in the out dis- 
tricts. She gets the children together in 
the school-houses, and reads and talks to 
them, until they are ready to swear by her 
and her pledge. Sometimes she has help 
in doing this, but usually she goes alone 
and depends upon her own resources.'' 

Do her father and mother approve of 
her doing this ? " 

''They were not quite pleased when 
she commenced the work. You know, 
perhaps, that they are not religious people, 
although they have always attended church, 
and contributed liberally to the support of 
Gospel preaching. They have never been 
ultra-temperance people, either, until Patty 
came out so decidedly. Now, they second 


Inherited, 


217 


her in all her efforts, and are very proud 
of the ability she displays in her new role. 
If Morley was worthy of her, and I could 
see them married and settled in life, I 
should be the happiest man in the world. 

‘‘ I have sinned in bringing him up with 
such lax principles, but it often seems to 
me that my punishment is greater than I 
can b. ar. It is worse, too, for my wife 
than it is for me. Sometimes we do not 
mention Morley’s name for days, and then 
we talk of him almost constantly whenever 
we are together. 

But I am wearying you. Perhaps I 
ought to ask your pardon for intruding my 
troubles upon you.'' 

‘‘ Certainly not. Any one has a right to 
expect sympathy from a friend, and I wish 
it was in my power to give you more than 
sympathy. If I can ever give you real as- 
sistance, you may command me to the full 
extent of my^ ability.” 

Thank you ; I may be glad to avail 
myself of your kindness. I feel as though 
I was standing on the brink of a yawning 


2i8 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


chasm, with the ground crumbling beneath 
my feet. But, doctor, there are better times 
in store for the world. I believe that. The 
liquor curse .has become so dreadful it 
must be restricted. It can not be endured 
much longer without some alleviation.” 

“ I have thought so for years ; but the 
liquor interest is a tremendous power in 
the land, socially and politically.” 

“ I know it is ; but let the women of the 
country take this matter in hand, and we 
shall see a decided change. Women con- 
trol the customs of society. It is in their 
power to banish wine-glass, punch-bowl, 
and beer-mug, as I hope they will. I hope 
my wife and daughter will do all in their 
power to help the cause of total abstinence. 
The work must begin at home ; but if it 
ends there, it will never be accomplished. 
Your daughters are enlisted ? ” 

o 

‘'Yes, they are, and if the interest goes 
on increasing, as it has increased within the 
last few weeks, the whole town will be en- 
listed.” 


CHAPTER XVIL 


MONEY AGAINST CONSCIENCE. 

Two saloons were closed, and so far from 
this proving a gain to those remaining open, 
they found their profits materially decreased. 
The proprietors were protected by law; 
but they were so closely watched for any 
infringement of the conditions of license, 
that they felt themselves restricted. Hav- 
ing been notified that if occasion was given 
they would be prosecuted, and knowing 
this was no idle threat, they governed them- 
selves accordingly. 

The superintendent of every mill, and 
the foreman of every shop, as well as every 
other person having men in his employ, 
had been visited, and asked to insist upon 
total abstinence among his employes. 

‘‘ That is no conc’ern of mine,” said one 
gentleman, who was a moderate drinker, 

(219) 


220 Miss Belindas Friends. 

and whose two sons frequented the club- 
room, the doors of which were still open to 
the initiated. '' If those who work for me do 
what is required, to earn their wages, I 
pay them, and there my responsibility ends. 
I can not trouble myself further.” 

But teetotalers will do better work 
and more of it,” responded Mr. Ryeland, 
who had volunteered to call upon the men 
representing the different industries of the 
town. ‘‘ I should be sorry to seem imper- 
tinent, but this is a matter in which we are 
all concerned. With few exceptions, the 
patrons of these, saloons are dependent 
upon their daily wages for the support 
of themselves and their families. Every 
cent they can earn is needed in their 
homes.” 

‘'All that may be true, but it is no con- 
cern of mine,” was replied with cool polite- 
ness. “ Our mill is not a reformatory in- 
stitution. We must have men, women, and 
machinery ; and while we are responsible 
for keeping our machinery in good work- 
ing order, we acknowledge no such re- 


Money against Conscience. 221 

sponsibility in regard to our workmen and 
workwomen. If a man becomes unfitted for 
his work, from any cause, I discharge him at 
once. The loss is his, not mine. So, as you 
see, I can not comply with your request.'’ 

Fortunately, others were inclined to aid 
in the work, so that, on the whole, these 
visitations resulted in much good. 

We have not gone far enough yet,” 
said the foreman of a shop employing a 
large number of men of different ages. 
'' A good many boys and young men have 
no comfortable place to spend their even- 
ings. They are obliged to board as cheaply 
as possible, and can not expect more than 
a plenty of plain food and decent lodging. 
They need a pleasant room where they can 
go after working hours, and at least be 
out of the way of evil surroundings. They 
are almost driven to the saloon for want 
of a better place ; and when there, it is 
only natural that they should spend money 
for drink. If they are to be kept away from 
the saloon, they must be furnished with 
some other place of resort.” 


222 


Mzss Belindas Friends, 


I agree with you/’ answered Mr. Rye- 
land. ‘‘ I have thought of it before, and 
the woman’s temperance society will, I 
think, make provision for a safe resort. 
They have the matter under consideration.” 

‘‘ Then we can safely leave it to them ; 
for what they undertake they are reason- 
ably certain to accomplish. A reading- 
room would be a blessing to the whole 
community ; and if we could have a cheap 
restaurant connected with it, that would be 
an additional blessing.” 

'' That, too, has been thought of ; and if 
it can be managed, without trespassing 
upon the little temperance saloon on Mr. 
Hover’s broad step, I presume we shall 
have it.” 

‘‘We must have both reading-room and 
coffee-room,” remarked Elva Harris, when 
talking with her sister. “ I have been 
thinking about it ever since our last meet- 
ing ; and the very rooms we ought to have 
are those occupied by the club. They are 
in just the right place, and easily reached 
by both front and back stairs.” 


Money against Conscience, 223 


‘‘ But those rooms are rented ; so, of 
course, we can not have them/’ 

'' I don’t suppose we can ; but Mr. Min- 
turn ought not to rent them to such a club. 
He professes to be a Christian, and he is 
doing wrong to allow liquor-drinking in 
such a way on his premises. His case 
comes in my department, and I will see 
him to-day, so that I can report to-mor- 
row.” 

Mr. Minturn was annoyed when his 
young lady visitor told him her business. 

'' If the rooms were vacant you should 
have them ; but I can not interfere with 
present occupants, unless I have some good 
reason for doing it. So long as the young 
gentlemen of the club pay the rent and are 
careful not to trespass upon the rights of 
their neighbors, I can not recall the lease.” 

‘‘ But, Mr. Minturn, they are just mak- 
ing drunkards of themselves, and every one 
else they can bring under their influence. 
A good many people say the club-room is 
as bad as any saloon in town. Only last 
week, Mason Wyman was so intoxicated 


224 Miss Belindas Friends, 

with liquor, he says he was forced to drink 
there, that he did not go home until morn- 
ing. Something was wrong about that.” 

Of course. I heard of it, and I said 
then, as I say now, Wyman should have 
kept out of the club-room. He is only a 
boy, anyway, and he had no business 
there.” 

'' He was invited there, and he says he 
had no idea he would be asked to drink 
liquor. If his father had been at home, he 
probably would not have gone.” 

'' Perhaps not. I rather think the mem- 
bers of the club went too far ; farther than 
they would if they had not taken a little 
too much themselves. I spoke to West 
and Latham about it, and they said they 
got jolly over some news they heard, and 
celebrated stronger than they meant to. 
They were sorry about Wyman, but I don’t 
suppose he drank a great deal. It was 
something new for him, and went to his 
head as soon as he swallowed it. The 
young gentlemen had no wish to injure 
him. They regarded the affair as simply a 
joke.” 


Money against Conscience, 225 


It was a very serious joke to Mason, 
and a great mortification to his parents ; 
but it will not occur again. He has taken 
the pledge, and says he will die before he 
will ever taste of liquor again. The club- 
room is a bad place.’’ 

I am afraid some things are done there 
which ought not to be. When I rented 
the rooms I had no idea liquor would be 
carried into them. If I had ” 

Here the speaker stopped abruptly, as if 
fearing that he might say more than he de- 
sired. 

Then, Mr. Minturn, I must report to 
our society that* we can expect no help 
from you ? ” 

''No, indeed. Miss Harris. You are 
doing a good work, and I wish you suc- 
cess. You are benefiting the town. It 
was time something was done, and I shall 
be glad to help you whenever I can do so 
consistently.” 

Elva Harris bowed herself from the gen- 
tleman’s presence, neither surprised nor 
discouraged at the result of her call. Going 

15 


226 Miss Belindas Friends. 

directly to Mrs. Eastwood, she reported 
her failure to impress Mr. Minturn with a 
sense of his responsibility as a landlord. 

“ If you had known that he is the owner 
of a building occupied by one of the largest 
wholesale liquor-dealers in the city, per- 
haps you would not have called upon 
him.” 

“ I am not sure. Is he such a man as 
that.?” 

“ A wholesale liquor-dealer rents a store 
of him.” 

“ Then he ought to be excommunicated 
from the church. He certainly would be 
if his fellow church-members thought as I 
do. If he has any conscience, it must con- 
demn him.” 

“ He offsets money against his con- 
science. He receives an enormous rent, 
and, as far as possible, keeps his owner- 
ship in the background. We must look 
for other rooms to serve our purpose.” 

“ I suppose we must. I tried to be re- 
spectful to Mr. Minturn, but, Mrs. East- 
wood, I did want to tell him that he would 


Money against Conscience. 227 

never help convert the world, until he 
should be a more consistent Christian. 
Why, if I professed to be a Christian, it 
seems to me I should be constantly on my 
guard lest I might do something that would 
be regarded by others as inconsistent with 
my profession.'' 

Be a Christian, Elva, and show us a 
consistent life. Think how much more 
good you might do, than you can possibly 
do now." 

Elva Harris made no reply to this. Per- 
sonal religion was a subject she did not 
wish to discuss, even with her dearest 
friends, although it engrossed many of her 
waking hours. 

At the next meeting of the woman's 
temperance society, estimates were made 
of the probable expense of fitting up a 
reading-room, with coffee-room adjoining, 
and a committee was appointed to solicit 
funds for the purpose. 

Serving on this committee, Elva Harris 
called again upon Mr. Minturn, receiving a 
generous donation, although she fancied it 


228 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


was given reluctantly. She it was, also, 
who visited the saloons, asking for aid in 
the new enterprise ; and in no case was she 
denied. 

Mr. Reegan, whose wife was a member 
of the society, and who was himself a 
pledged man, gave ten dollars, unsolicited ; 
asking that, if possible, the rooms might 
be in readiness at Christmas. '' If you 
need more from me, come, and Fll divide 
my last dollar for you,'’ he said, with tear- 
ful eyes ; ‘‘I can’t go back to make up to 
my Janie, but I’ll do all I can for what are 
left. The saloons are worse places than 
anybody knows but them who keep them, 
and there are worse things done than 
you’d believe ; but when a man is wild for 
money as I was, everything goes down be- 
fore it. It is not all the whiskey, though. 
Miss. The rich ones with their wine are 
as bad as the poor ones with their whiskey. 
You’ll mind it, the same as I, if you watch 
to see.” 

Not long had the people of this town to 
watch before seeing the proof of Mr. Ree- 


Money against Conscience, 229 

gan's assertion in their very midst. In a 
low drinking-saloon, the proprietor of which 
had been loudest in declaring his right to 
sell what he pleased, two men became so 
excited with liquor, that from angry words 
they proceeded to blows. Becoming more 
infuriated, one of the men seized an empty 
bottle, and, striking his combatant, inflicted 
a fearful wound. Shouting then like a 
madman at the sight of blood, he seized 
the wounded man, who, in turn, grappled 
with his assailant, until it required the 
united strength of four others to separate 
them. 

This done, and realizing the danger, the 
proprietor of the saloon dispatched a mes- 
senger for Dr. Harris, who arrived only in 
time to save the bleeding man's life and 
avert the crime of murder. 

After the blood had been stanched and 
the wound dressed, the sufferer w'as taken 
to his wretched home, where wife and chil- 
dren were destitute of the very necessaries 
of life. There the doctor left him, promis- 
ing to see him again early in the morning 


230 Jkftss Belinda! s Friends. 

An hour later, Dr. Harris' office-bell 
was rung violently, and answering it him- 
self, he was told that a young man who 
had been accidentally shot desired his ser- 
vices at the earliest possible moment. He 
asked no questions, but hastened to obey 
the summons. 

In this case the wounded man was found 
in an elegantly furnished room, resting 
upon a luxurious bed, and surrounded with 
all the appliances of wealth. A few words 
from his father sufficed for all necessary 
information, while a ghastly wound in his 
side, which still held the well-nigh fatal 
bullet, told the rest. 

It was a painful process, yet borne with- 
out a groan, and when, at last, the probing 
and dressing were over, the patient was 
left in as comfortable a condition as cir- 
cumstances permitted. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


''WINE IS A MOCKER.’' 

Early the next morning, Dr. Harris re- 
ceived a call from Angus West, who said 
abruptly : 

" I wish to know the truth. Is Will 
Latham likely to recover ? ” 

" The chances are in his favor,” replied 
the doctor. " It will be a matter of time ; 
but if he can be kept from excitement, 
there is a reasonable prospect of ultimate 
recovery.” 

" Then his wound is not necessarily 
fatal ” 

" It is not. The worst feature of the 
case is that he had been drinking heavily, 
so that his system was not in a normal 
condition ; and of course we must expect 
more or less fever, but I hope to pull him 
through.” 


(231) 


232 Miss Belindas Friends. 

'' Dr. Harris, I know I need not ask you 
to do your best for him, but if he dies I 
shall be his murderer, although I would 
not have done him an injury for the world. 
It was wine which did it.” 

'' Wine is a mocker.” 

‘‘ Truer words were never spoken. Will 
does not blame me. He was the first trans- 
gressor, but I ought to have realized that 
he was not responsible for what he said. 
I was in just the state to take offence at a 
word. It was the first time I was ever 
engaged in a quarrel, and it will be the 
last.” 

'' Are you so sure of yourself as that ? ” 

‘‘Yes, sir, I am. My revolver is be- 
yond my reach ; and as for wine, I have 
done with it.” 

“ And all other alcoholic drinks ? ” 

“Yes, sir; wine stands for the whole 
list. It has come near to being my ruin. 
Possibly my ruin is complete. If Will 
Latham dies ” 

Here a perceptible shudder passed over 
the speaker, and with a deprecating ges- 


Wine is a Mockerl 


233 


a 


ture, he was about to leave the office, when 
he turned to say, in a hoarse whisper : 

'' Please consider this interview con- 
fidential.” 

In less than half an hour Dr. Harris was 
by the bedside of Will Latham, who had 
passed a restless night, and was conse- 
quently in a feverish state of nervous irrita- 
bility. The members of his family in at- 
tendance upon him had failed to meet the 
requirements of good nursing, and were 
anxious to transfer their responsibility to 
more competent hands. 

‘'Angus West has offered his services, 
but we can hardly trust him,” said Mr. 
Latham. “ I suppose you know how the 
shooting occurred? ” 

“Yes, sir, and I would advise you to 
trust West as far as he is willing to go. 
He was not wholly in fault.” 

“ I am aware of that. Will exonerates 
him from all blame, and has exacted a 
promise from me that in case he should 
die. West shall not be held responsible. 
He would \,dSk. about it last night, and in 


234 Miss Belindas Friends, 

fact he talked about so many things, we 
were all quite upset. He will do better 
with a stranger who understands managing 
sick people. If you will recommend a 
nurse, it will be a great relief to us all.” 

‘‘ I know of a woman whose skill and 
judgment can both be trusted, but she 
would need some assistance as well as some 
time for rest,” answered Dr. Harris. I 
should feel perfectly safe to leave your son 
in her care.” 

‘‘ Then do us the favor to engage her, 
and we will accede to any conditions she 
may make.” 

Miss Belinda had desired a hard place, 
but it was only after serious consideration 
that she consented to go to Mr. Latham’s. 
Dr. Harris gave her minute directions for 
the management of his patient, and then 
left her in the pleasant room, where, with 
God’s help, she was to battle for the life of 
one whose feet had well-nigh slipped. 

Here her very presence inspired confi- 
dence, and when, at night, she chose to 
keep watch alone, with Angus West in an 


Wine is a Mocker, 


235 


adjoining room, ready to come at her call, 
the family retired to rest, relieved and 
grateful. The morning found them hope- 
ful. 

Not out of danger, but something has 
been gained,’' was the doctor’s verdict. 

Meanwhile, the wounded man, who had 
been carried home from a saloon, was in a 
far worse condition than Will Latham. He 
was a besotted beer-drinker.; irritable, un- 
reasonable, and half delirious. 

Here was work for one of the visiting 
committees of the woman’s temperance so- 
ciety ; Sabra Harris and Ruth Eastwood 
constituting this committee. Material aid 
was given, with directions in regard to its 
use. Cleanliness was insisted upon as in- 
dispensable, and practically enforced. 

How can a woman ever reach such 
depths of indolence and idleness ! ” ex- 
claimed Ruth Eastwood, shaking the dust 
from her skirts after leaving the house. 
‘‘ There is no excuse for her, even in that 
old rookery. I don’t believe the floor has 
been washed for months ; and as for the 


236 Afzss Belindas Friends, 

windows, they were hardly transparent. I 
looked into the pantry, and there was an 
accumulation of unwashed dishes. There 
was a window, but I presume it is never 
opened. I hope there is not another house 
in town so bad.’’ 

'‘There is but one drunkards’ rookery. 
Father says the name suits the house, and 
there probably is not a family living in it, 
free from the curse of intemperance.” 

"Then I suppose we ought to call upon 
them, but I must wait until I have recov- 
ered from the effects of this visit. I begin 
to think our office will be no sinecure.” 

" Ours is a working society ; but the 
reading-room committee are likely to have 
as much on their hands as any.” 

"Yes, and Elva is the very one to do 
her part. David says she will be sure of 
the necessary funds ; and now that the 
club is under suspicion, it may be that she 
will secure the desired rooms.” 

It was soon known that these rooms had 
been vacated by the club. The furniture 
was quietly removed, the screens taken 


Wine is a Mocker, 


237 


down from the windows, and the doors left 
wide open, as if inviting scrutiny of the 
premises. 

Mr. Minturn was ready to make most 
generous terms with the society. Some 
things had occurred to trouble his con- 
science, and wound his love of approbation. 
A sermon to which he had listened, and 
which he in vain criticised as fanatical, un- 
warranted, and even unscriptural, had set 
his sins in order before him. In blaming 
the preacher, he found himself in the mi- 
nority, and was therefore glad of an op- 
portunity to regain favor by contributing 
generously for the support of temperance. 

'' Guess there won’t be anybody shot in 
those rooms when the woman’s society get 
them fixed up,” said Teddy Fritter to Micky 
McGill. 

‘'You don’t suppose anybody ever was 
shot there, do you ? ” replied Micky, with 
a knowing look. 

“ Don’t suppose anything out loud, but 
I think all the same. Miss Belinda wouldn’t 
say a word when she came home for a little 


238 Miss Belindas Friends. 

while yesterday. If two poor ones quarrel 
and get hurt, there don’t anybody keep still 
about it. I tell you, Micky, I don’t believe 
but what there is just as much ugly in wine 
as there is in whiskey, and now there isn’t 
any club-room, somebody ought to shut up 
the saloons. I’m thinking we’ll go round 
again next week.” 

‘'And can’t I drum when we are march- 
ing? Now we have so many, and girls, 
too, we ought to have music. And I don’t 
believe but what Ernest Crawford would 
play on his fife. I say, Teddy, it made me 
wink real fast when that rich boy asked me 
if he couldn’t join our society. He said he 
wanted to help, and when he told me about 
his little lame sister, it almost made me cry. 
I saw him drawing her in a beauty of a 
wagon yesterday, and she looked just like 
the angels in pictures, only she didn’t have 
any wings.” 

“ I wish I could see her.” 

“ You will see her some time. She had 
a kitten in the wagon with her, and that 
made me think of Martin. So I told Er- 


Wine is a Mocker, 


239 


nest about him, and they are coming down 
this way so to see him. Won’t they think 
he is splendid ? ” 

They can’t help it, and he’ll find out 
pretty soon that the little girl is lame. He 
always seems to know when anybody is in 
trouble. He purrs away to Johnny a good 
deal louder than he does to me, and I tell 
you Johnny is coming up. He prays every 
night, and reads the Bible, and last week 
he earned enough to help ever so much. 
I heard Miss Sabra tell Miss Belinda his 
mind was growing the same as his flowers.” 

John Fritter was no longer a burden. 
He watched the growth of his plants, ap- 
parently so absorbed in them and in his 
work, that he forgot the old craving for 
liquor. The old kitchen, now so cheery 
and bright, would hardly have been recog- 
nized as the dark, dingy room which was 
in itself the very embodiment of forlorn 
poverty. Every cutting had rooted, every 
seed had germinated ; so that even now 
there was promise of bud and bloom. 

Mrs. Fritter was an active member of 


240 Jlfzss Belindas Friends, 

the temperance society, and after their first 
visit to the drunkards’ rookery, the com- 
mittee appealed to her to supplement their 
work ; thinking rightly that as she could 
speak from experience, she might speak 
more effectively. 

'' I will do what I can,” she said, after 
being assured that no one else could do so 
well. I used to think if a woman lived 
with a drunkard, she might just as well 
give up and not try to have anything de- 
cent, but I know better than that now. I 
have learned that there is a good deal in 
having a tidy house and wholesome meals ; 
and it is wonderful how much you can do 
with a little money, if you only know how. 
Why, Miss Harris, it seems to me I have 
only just begun to live. Somebody ought 
to go into that rookery, as you call it, and 
persuade the women to make their rooms 
clean ; and I don’t know but they need a 
cooking-school.” 

'‘You might start such a school, Mrs. 
Fritter.” 

" No, indeed. I am only learning, but 


Wine is a Mocker^ 


241 


Miss Belinda could do it. I think she can 
do almost anything. We don’t know how 
to get along without her. We all trust 
her, and the Bedlow girls are fairly home- 
sick for her.” 

“ They have their brother.” 

''Yes, and he is a good brother, but 
Miss Belinda is like a mother to them.” 

It was with some trepidation that Mrs. 
Fritter prepared for her visit ; but when she 
reached the house she found two of her 
old acquaintances, who began at once to 
question her in regard to her changed ap- 
pearance. She was comparatively well 
dressed ; she had lost something of the 
discouraged look which had so long marked 
her face, and she spoke cheerfully. 

"You are better off than we are,” said 
one ; the other adding quickly : 

" We should be better off if it wasn’t for 
our husbands. They drink up their wages, 
and then find fault with us for not having 
something nice for them to eat when they 
come home. For my part, I don’t care 
what my husband says. There is Mcln- 
16 


242 Miss Belindas Friends, 

tire got his head cut, and now he will be 
helped, 'though they weren't any worse off 
than some of the rest of us." 

You are all worse off than you need 
to be," responded Mrs. Fritter, glancing 
around the disordered room. If I was 
to live my life over again, I would be clean, 
if I did nothing else." 

This remark called forth an angry re- 
joinder ; but as Mrs. Fritter was ready to 
acknowledge her own shortcomings, her 
companions were at length induced to 
listen to her as she told of the efforts she 
had made at improvement. 

‘‘You can do better than I," she said 
frankly. ''You are quicker and smarter 
than I ever can be, and if you two would 
only start in the right way, you could lead 
the whole house." 

" But what would be the use as long as 
the liquor is sold and drank ? All we could 
do wouldn't amount to anything." 

Poor Mrs. Fritter was nearly discour- 
aged ; but remembering how others had 
labored for her, she went over the whole 


Wine is a Mocker. 


243 


it 


ground again, and at last had the satisfac- 
tion of seeing a vigorous beginning made 
in the right direction. Mrs. Mclntire was 
a stranger to her, yet she was kindly re- 
ceived, and a promise given that her sug- 
gestions should be faithfully carried out. 

As the immediate result of this visit, two 
men were surprised to find neatly spread 
tables, where there had been utter disre- 
gard of anything like order or neatness. 

'‘Have we got company?” asked one 
of these men, in a low tone. 

“ I expected company before you came,” 
replied his wife, half ashamed of what 
might seem something like an expression 
of regard. 

“ But here are only two plates.” 

“ And only two of us to sit down to the 
table. You are the company I expected, 
and I wished I had a better supper for you. 
But this is the best I could do.” 

“ Good enough for me, wife. Better 
than I deserve anyway. The boss has 
been talking to us to-day, trying to make 
us swear off from tobacco and all kinds of 


244 Miss Belindas Friends. 

liquor. I thought I wouldn't do it, but 
now you have made things look so snug 
and tidy, I have half a mind to try it." 

Oh, I do wish you would. Fritter s 
widow has been here, and you wouldn't 
know her for the same woman she used to 
be. She told us about what the women 
were doing, and what she was trying to do 
herself; and it almost made me think it 
wasn’t too late for us to take a new start. 
We can, if you will only agree to it." 

Here the poor woman paused, unable to 
say more, when her husband answered : 

It sha’n’t be my fault if we ain’t better 
off before the New Year comes in. Ball 
and I were talking about it on our way 
home, but we didn’t quite make up our 
minds. We thought we’d wait and see 
how things looked when we came to think 
it over by ourselves. We didn’t know 
whether we’d go to the saloon or not." 

“ What do you think about it now ? " 

I shall stay at home, and I am sure 
Ball will, if things look as well to him as 
they do to me. He is a better man than I 


“ Wine is a Mocker. 


245 


am, but he is more particular. He married 
his wife for her pretty face, and now that 
has gone he wants something to make up 
for it.” 

“ She looks prettier than usual this even- 
ing. She has taken pains to fix up.” 

“ All right, then, if the children are clean, 
and the table has a clean supper on it.” 

“ It has, and the children are clean as 
their mother could make them.” 

“ Good for her and you. The old rook- 
ery won’t know itself. The men will be 
ashamed to spend their money for liquor, if 
the women go to fixing up in this way.” 


CHAPTER XIX. 


THE OLD ROOKERY. 

Saloon-keepers and others interested in 
the consumption of alcoholic drinks ridi- 
culed the boys, parading with fife and 
drum ; asking their one question civilly, 
repeating a verse from the Bible to enforce 
their request, and then retiring in good 
order. 

These same interested persons sneered 
at the idea that a society composed of 
women could effect any important change 
in public sentiment or public manners ; but 
they were beginning to find that they had 
failed entirely to appreciate the situation. 

The boys’ society was gaining in num- 
bers and influence. They displayed their 
colors on all occasions, and were ready, at 
any time, to give a reason for their faith 
and practice. The women, too, were thor- 

(246) 


The Old Rookery. 247 

oughly in earnest, aggressive and persist- 
ent ; although no one presumed to accuse 
them of having transcended the bounds 
of propriety. As for the society of which 
Mr. Ryeland was president, its members 
seemed always on the alert. 

License had its restrictions ; although 
these had been ignored and disregarded, 
until they were nearly forgotten ; but tem- 
perance workers knew the exact limitations, 
and gave notice that any infringement would 
be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. 

“ That is next to shutting them up,” said 
Mr. Reegan, who was enlisted in the work. 
‘‘ They want to sell every drop they can, 
without asking any questions. When it 
comes to being watched and threatened, 
the business has too many hitches. Sell- 
ing liquor to make money needs to be free 
and easy. That is my experience, and a 
license don’t amount to much for holding 
anybody back. It is a good cloak for cover- 
ing a good many things a man don’t want 
to have seen.” 

“ A man who sells liquor will stretch his 


248 Afzss Belmdas Friends, 

conscience and license at the same time/’ 
was replied. 

‘'Yes, sir; that he will every time, and 
there’s not many but stretch their con- 
science when they begin with the liquor. 
There’s not much of a chance here now. 
You see, sir, they counted on the young 
men for beer, and something stronger when 
they grew older, but now there’s some- 
body at their elbows, asking them here and 
there of an evening, so they get weaned 
from the saloons before they hardly know 
it. The bosses, too, are most of them on 
our side, and I’m thinking the rest will soon 
be coming round.” 

“To do that consistently^ they must first 
change their own habits.” 

“You are right in that, sir, and I’m 
thinking one will do it, or find himself like 
the man who went to be married, and found 
never a woman at the end of his journey.” 

“ I think I understand you, Mr. Reegan.” 

“ If you don’t, Fll be telling you that 
Miss Stevens joined the woman’s society 
at the last meeting, and you mind, sir, she 


The Old Rookery, 249 

didn’t do it for nothing. She can have her 
own way now, with will and won’t, as she 
pleases, but if she was married, there might 
be another will and won’t under the same 
roof.” 

Then you think it might not be so easy 
for her.” 

It might not, sir, ’though I’m far from 
saying that Mr. Young is a bad man, but 
it is never safe trusting to liquor, inside or 
outside. If I was a woman. I’d not run the 
risk of being pushed aside for wine or 
whiskey. But we shall see when it comes 
Christmas. I am looking for great things 
then.” 

There was a general looking forward to 
Christmas as a grand temperance holiday, 
yet much remained to be done before the 
anticipations could be realized. It had 
been decided to hold a festival in the 
town-hall on Christmas Eve for the pur- 
pose of raising a fund to carry on the gen- 
eral work, while Christmas evening was 
chosen for the first opening of the reading- 
room and coffee-room. 


250 Miss Belindas Friends. 

These rooms were fast being fitted up 
at the least expense compatible with their 
purpose. The entire second floor of Wha- 
lan’s block had been rented at so low a 
rate as to surprise all who knew Mr. Min- 
turn’s love of gain. Perhaps he hoped 
thus to redeem himself with those who held 
him largely responsible for the demoraliz- 
ing influences of the club-room which had 
been so suddenly closed. 

“ A murder there would have had an 
ugly look,” said a gentleman, referring to 
this matter. “ It was a strange affair. I 
don’t suppose either of the young men 
present would acknowledge or deny that 
he was responsible. I think they must 
have pledged themselves to silence on the 
subject, and I have been told by good au- 
thority that they pledged themselves to 
total abstinence on the spot. At any rate, 
nobody has known of their drinking liquor 
since then.” 

“ I think I could give a pretty correct 
guess as to who fired the pistol.” 

“ Of course you could. There is no doubt 


The Old Rookery. 251 

about it, but fortunately there will be no 
need of a legal investigation. Will Latham 
is doing well, and he is better off to-day 
than he would be if he had gone on drink- 
ing until this time.'’ 

'' It was rather a strange coincidence 
which gave Dr. Harris two surgical cases, 
the same evening, from the same cause. 
The other patient — Mclntire, I think his 
name is — is out, but his face is badly 
scarred. That was a savage fight." 

Yet good seems to- have come out of 
it. The old rookery has been under strict 
surveillance since then. Mclntire signed 
the pledge some time ago, and with him 
several other hard drinkers, with whom he 
has been hale fellow well met. The tem- 
perance reform is doing wonders for us, 
and we may thank the women for the whole 
of it. What has been done by the men 
was an afterthought on their part." 

Then having come into the work late, 
we should be all the more active and zeal- 
ous." 

''Yes, and even then we can not do 


252 Miss Belindas Friends. 

what the same number of active, zealous 
women could accomplish. Men alone might 
close up the liquor-saloons, but there is 
other work which women must do or it 
will remain undone/' 

‘‘You are right, and may God bless 
them every one, and give us men the grace 
to acknowledge their right and ability to 
work according to their own judgment. 
As you see, I have changed my creed," 
added the speaker, smiling, as he was 
about to leave his companion. “ I thought 
the men could manage the outside world 
pretty well, while the women attended to 
what was going on at home, but I have 
learned that home interests reach a long 
distance beyond the street doors." 

This gentleman was not alone in the 
change of opinions. Indeed, change was 
the order of the day, and, as every one 
confessed, these changes were all on the 
side of improvement. If old 'landmarks 
had in some instances been removed, 
others had been established on firmer 
foundations. 


The Old Rookery. 


253 


The old house, occupied by the Fritter 
family, the Bedlows, and Miss Belinda, was 
no longer regarded as a blot upon the 
landscape. The owner, appreciating the 
thrift of his tenants, and the promptness 
with which the rent was paid, made some 
much-needed repairs, promising to do more 
in the spring, and allowing Teddy the ut- 
most liberty in providing quarters for his 
fowls. 

When Miss Belinda .could be spared 
from caring for Will Latham, she had 
much to see and admire in what had been 
done during her absence. No place had 
ever seemed to her more like home ; and 
as she was greeted with the most enthusi- 
astic demonstrations of welcome, she felt 
that she was no longer alone in the world. 

I am so glad you have come, and I 
hope you never will go away again,” said 
Lucy and Elsie Bedlow, each with an arm 
around her neck. '' We didn’t know what 
to do about half the things, only what Mrs. 
Fritter told us.” 

‘‘And the best I could do was to tell 


254 Miss Belinda! s Friends. 

them what you had told me/' rejoined Mrs. 
Fritter. It wasn't so good, coming sec- 
ond-hand, and I am as glad as anybody to 
have you back. I don't doubt you have 
done a great deal of good, but we missed 
you. We were afraid, too, that you would 
get sick and lame." 

I am neither. Mr. Latham's family 
were all very kind, helping me all they 
could, and not allowing me to get too tired. 
But I am glad to be back. I believe home 
never looked quite so pleasant to me as it 
does now." 

'‘Then you won't go away again, will 
you ? " said Teddy, who had waited for an 
opportunity to speak, when sure of being 
heard. 

" I expect to stay," replied Miss Belinda. 
" I presume I shall settle down for the 
winter with my plants and my cat. But 
where is Marttn ? I hope nothing has 
happened to him." 

" Likely he has gone to Mr. Crawford's. 
Grace, the little lame girl, thinks he is just 
splendid, and he likes to stay with her, too. 


The Old Rookery, 


255 


She gives him pop-corn and candy, every 
time he goes up there ; but I should think 
he would know you have come home/' 

He will soon find it out," said his mis- 
tress, and presently he was in the room, 
showing by unmistakable signs that how- 
ever he might regard new friends, old ones 
were not forgotten. 

So many reports were to be made, and 
so much of interest told, that Miss Belinda 
found it difficult to decide which was of 
most importance ; yet to none did she lis- 
ten with more of interest, than to Mrs. 
Fritter’s account of work done in the rook- 
ery. 

I thought I couldn’t go there,’’ said the 
poor woman. It seemed to me I never 
could tell other people what to do, when I 
need to be told so much myself. But I 
promised Teddy I wouldn’t refuse to do 
anything I was asked ; so I went, and now 
I go twice a week and enjoy it. But I told 
the women I expected you would go with 
me next time, and you could show them 
about a great many things I couldn’t. 


256 Miss Belindas Friends, 

'' Miss Harris and Miss Eastwood go 
two days when I don’t, and they are get- 
ting the children ready for Sunday-school. 
Just think, Miss Belinda, there are eight 
families in the house, and in every one of 
them there was a drunkard. A woman 
there told me it was always full, too, be- 
cause such poor, miserable ones like to get 
off by themselves, and as fast as one goes 
out, another comes in.” 

How many drunkards are there in the 
house now ? ” 

‘‘ Only two, and they are thinking about 
signing the pledge. It was a dreadfully 
dirty place ; but there, I don’t know as it 
was any worse than my room used to be. 
So I better not say anything about it. I told 
two women I used to know how I manage 
now, and they promised to try my ways. 
But you must go and see for yourself.” 

She could not see all which had been 
accomplished ; neither could Sabra Harris 
and Ruth Eastwood, although their visits 
had been frequent and regular. 

The house had been thoroughly cleaned 


The Old Rookery, 


257 


from garret to cellar, and the landlord had 
whitewashed it as thoroughly. Beds and 
bedding had been aired ; closets cleared 
of rubbish, and scanty wardrobes made 
more presentable. 

Mrs. Fritter’s suggestions had been made 
to women, the best calculated of any in the 
house to influence others ; and their hus- 
bands aiding them, they had commenced 
at once the work of improvement. 

We were driven to turning over a 
new leaf,” said the most unfortunate of the 
rookery tenants. When Mclntire was 
brought home, we thought he’d be sure to 
die, and that made the rest of the men think 
of themselves. My husband can’t earn 
much, because he has lost three fingers ; 
but he spent ’most everything for liquor, 
and left me and the children half starved. 
Sometimes, too. I’d take a drop myself, 
and that made things worse. The first 
time the young ladies called, I was that far 
gone I couldn’t talk rightly ; but they left 
a tract I promised to read. 

It was Saturday afternoon, and for 
17 


258 Miss Belindas Friends. 

Sunday we had only potatoes and salt, and 
not a drop of liquor, nor a penny to buy it. 
I didn't mind breaking a promise, but for 
want of something else to do, I took up 
the tract. We are both poor scholars, but 
I made out to spell it through, and then my 
husband wanted to hear it again, so he 
could understand it better. I did better the 
next time ; and would you believe it, I read 
the tract through four times before he was 
ready to have me stop. 

It was just what you'd call a story ; but 
it went right straight to our hearts. The 
men and women in it were poor and bad as 
we were until they stopped drinking, and 
that set us to thinking maybe it wasn't too 
late for us. 

'' We've had other tracts since then, and 
all of them good, but there'll never be an- 
other to us like the first one ; and now, 
thank God and the blessed temperance 
women, we are gaining every day." 


CHAPTER XX 


READING-ROOM AND COFFEE-ROOM. 

It was the intention of those having the 
matter in charge to invite every family with- 
in the limits of the town to contribute in some 
way to the success of the temperance fes- 
tival ; and the response quite exceeded the 
most sanguine expectations. 

‘‘ It seems as though 'most everybody 
was going to be put forward," said an old 
lady who had spent her whole life in a lit- 
tle brown house in one of the back dis- 
tricts. There's folks to be among the 
first that nobody ever thought of before, 
and one thing is just as good as another to 
give. At any rate, the village-folks call it 
so, and they are the ones that started about 
the festival. 

“ I hadn't anything to give but a pair of 
silk stockings I knit last summer. I learned 

(259) 


26 o 


Miss Belindas Friends, 


the stitch when I was a girl, and my cousin, 
who was here visiting two years ago, gave 
me the silk. I knit them at odd times, 
when somebody came in, or I got tired of 
doing homely work ; but when they were 
finished they were too fine for me. I hadn’t 
any girl to wear them, and when Elva 
Harris asked me what I would give, I 
thought of them. ^ I knew it wasn’t any use 
to ask Josiah for money, so I had to de- 
pend on myself for what I could give. I 
brought out the stockings, and Elva Harris 
said she never saw any handsomer ones, 
and they would sell for a good price. 

I tell you I was glad, for I’ve wanted 
to do something to help that woman’s so- 
ciety ever since I heard of it. Josiah don’t 
fellowship it a mite. He don’t believe in 
women coming to the front, as he calls it. 
He thinks it ain’t their place, but he is going 
to the festival and so am I. Elva Harris 
talked to him till he promised, and he won’t 
go back on his word. Maybe I shall feel 
like a stranger when I get there, but I am 
going.” 


Reading-Room and Coffee-Room, 261 

This possibility had occurred to Elva, 
who remarked to a group of young ladies : 

Those who come in from the out dis- 
tricts must receive particular attention, so 
they will consider themselves an actual part 
of the festival. I learned one thing in my 
visits ; all the talent is not massed in our 
village. Some of the very best people live 
outside, as well as some of the poorest. I 
thought no place could be worse than the 
.rookery has been ; but if I was one of a 
drunkard’s family, I should a thousand times 
rather live there, than in a poor, dilapi- 
dated house, at the edge of a wood, or on 
some bleak hill, where I could only watch 
and wait for whatever a drunkard might 
bring to me. There are a few such houses 
in town, and it makes me shudder to think 
of what is in store for the inmates this 
winter.” 

"None of them will be at the festival.” 

" I am afraid not, although I gave tickets 
to four boys, who said they would come if 
they possibly could. If I can get them 
here, I may be able to get them into the 


262 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


Sunday-school, and then there will be hope 
for them/’ 

At last, the long expected evening ar- 
rived, and everything was in readiness. 
People came early, that none of the enter- 
tainment might be lost ; and among others 
were the four boys who had received free 
tickets, and who also received a cordial 
welcome from the donor of these tickets. 

The entertainment consisted of instru- 
mental music, singing, pantomimes, a short 
drama ; and a five minutes’ speech which 
was loudly cheered. Then refreshments 
at reasonable prices, which were eaten, as 
if the success of temperance work depended 
upon eating ; yet when no more could be 
disposed of in that way, much remained to 
be sold at auction. 

There was a variety of miscellaneous 
goods ; bags of grain, vegetables, butter, 
cheese, and two loads of wood ; the last to 
be delivered within ten days. A ready 
sale was found for these, and then the silk 
stockings were brought forward. At once 
a bid was made which more than satisfied 


Reading-Room and Coffee-Room, 263 

the woman whose gift they were. Other 
bids followed in quick succession, until 
Mrs. Fayette Lyman offered a price no one 
else would think of paying, and so became 
the possessor of the dainty stockings. 

‘‘ That is her way of giving,'' said Mrs. 
Eastwood to Mrs. Ryeland. '' Her hus- 
band absolutely refused to give us a single 
dollar, and I suspect he forbade her giving 
anything. But she has an unlimited amount 
of money at her command, and I presume 
he would not care if she paid twenty dol- 
lars for every pair of stockings she wears. 
He is away at present." 

''Yes, and I am surprised to see her 
here," was replied. " She has spent money 
liberally since she came in here. She told 
Teddy Fritter she would pay for a good 
supper for any ten boys he might select, 
and she has bought some of the most ex- 
pensive articles we had for sale." 

Mrs. Lyman had been really munificent 
in her purchases ; the four boys, to whom 
the evening's experience was like their first 
glimpse of fairyland, sharing in her bounty. 


264 Miss Belinda's Friends, 

They believed in temperance, and went to 
their homes, resolved to be total abstainers 
for life. They were ready for Sunday- 
school, also, promising to be present the 
next Sabbath. 

The festival was a complete success. 
The net proceeds were much larger than 
had been anticipated, and a new impulse 
was given to temperance work. 

The next evening the reading-room and 
coffee-room were to be opened, to which 
opening all were invited ; therefore, it was 
with this in prospect that the company dis- 
persed, to meet again when Merry Christ- 
mas'' had gladdened young and old all 
over our land. 

Christmas was to be a busy day, and 
strangest of all strange things, there was 
to be a Christmas tree on the first floor, 
front, of the rookery. Teddy Fritter and 
Micky McGill provided the tree, and called 
upon the members of their society to assist 
in providing presents. Such presents had 
never before been seen in the old house ; 
such shouts of gladness had never before 


Reading-Room and Coffee-Room, 265 

been heard there ; and altogether it was a 
grand day for the children. 

Then in the evening came the opening 
of the reading-room, free to all ; while just 
across the hall, coffee and cake were sold 
at so cheap a rate, as to astonish those who 
tested their quality. 

'' How can you afford it ? asked one, of 
the matronly-looking woman who issued 
tickets, received payments, and had a gen- 
eral oversight of whatever transpired in the 
room. 

‘‘By good management,” she replied 
pleasantly. “ The comforts of life are 
cheaply purchased. Most people can have 
what they really need, if they spend their 
money wisely.” 

“ That means to buy coffee instead of 
beer.” 

“ Yes, and it means, too, to buy bread 
instead of tobacco.” 

“You are right, madam, and that is 
what I am going to do in futnre.” 

“ I, too,” chimed in others who had heard 
this short colloquy, and wished to testify 
against beer and tobacco. 


266 


Miss Belindas Friends, 


It might have been supposed that a large 
majority of the men of the town had ar- 
rived at the same conclusion, since it re- 
quired the services of. four boys to re- 
spond to the calls made for coffee and 
cake. 

The reading-room, also, presented a 
busy, though quiet scene. There was 
nothing to pay for the privilege of spend- 
ing every evening of the week — Sunday 
evening excepted — in perusing all these 
papers and magazines in a well-warmed, 
well-lighted room. 

‘‘ I think we ought to give something for 
such a privilege as this,” said a young man, 
looking up from the paper he was reading. 

It will cost a good deal to keep this 
room open, the year round, and supply it 
with literature. Suppose we put up a box 
by the door, and drop in a penny when we 
come here. The poorest of us would 
hardly feel that, and it would amount to 
something at the end of the year.” 

Put up the box, and let everybody put 
in what they please,” was responded, and 


Reading-Room a 7 id Coffee-Room. 267 

this being satisfactory to all, it was decided 
that it should be done. 

The broad-step restaurant was closed, 
yet Teddy Fritter had no lack of employ- 
ment. He was paid for assisting in the 
coffee-room, and at the same time allowed 
to sell peanuts for his own profit. 

Miss Belinda had been mentioned in 
connection with the coffee-room, but she 
preferred that some other should take 
charge of it, leaving her at liberty for other 
work. She had changed much since Sabra 
Harris first saw her, dependent upon her 
crutches, and struggling for the means 
of subsistence. Always self-reliant, she 
had gained a broader outlook upon life, 
and a juster appreciation of her own 
powers. 

Perhaps her time for hard study had 
passed; but she read much and judiciously. 
Meeting people of culture and intelligence, 
she was quick to learn from their superior 
knowledge and manners, while her unself- 
ish kindness made her polite in the best 
sense of that word. She was never com- 


268 


Mzss Belindas Friends, 


monplace, because she was always origi- 
nal and earnest. 

Will Latham had found her not only a 
skillful nurse, but an entertaining compan- 
ion. She never wearied him ; on the con- 
trary, the sound of her voice, as she crooned 
some old hymn, lulled him to sleep, when 
sleep had seemed impossible. 

He had not recovered his usual strength, 
but he was able to move about the house, 
and drive for an hour or two, when the 
weather was fine. In his drives he was 
accompanied by Angus West, who was 
now an open advocate of total abstinence, 
ready to give assistance to the cause in 
any way he could. He aided materially in 
carrying out the arrangements for the fes- 
tival, and paid for the first cup of coffee 
sold in the coffee-room. 

‘‘The women have accomplished what 
they attempted,'' said a plainly-dressed 
man to him, as they stood sipping coffee. 

“ They have well begun their work," 
was replied. 

“ So that is the way you look at it.' 


Readmg-Room and Coffee-Room, 269 

Yes, sir; this is only the beginning/' 

I don’t know but you are right, and 
it is often easier to begin than to keep 
on. For my part, I never had any trouble 
with liquor among my folks, and didn’t 
think much about it anyway ; but my wife 
and girls got stirred up, and they stirred 
me .up, till I thought it was time for me to 
turn to and lend a helping hand in the 
good work. I wonder now that the women 
didn’t start up sooner.” 

This was the remark often made by those 
who realized little what it had cost to stem 
the tide of popular opinion and come to the 
front as reformers. 

“ I should like to stop now for a while 
and take breath,” said Elva Harris to her 
sister, the morning after Christmas. I 
believe I am tired, and I know I am glad 
and thankful. It was all better than I ex- 
pected. Everybody did the right thing at 
the right time. But New-Year’s will soon 
be here, and there is my Sunday-school 
class to be remembered. Grandmother 
says she must go home the second day of 


270 Miss Belinda's Friends, 

January, and I am to go with her. I wish, 
for grandmother s sake. Miss Belinda would 
accept her invitation for the winter, but we 
could hardly spare her, and she would pre- 
fer going in the summer.” 

‘^Your Sunday-school class will have 
two holidays near together,” answered 
Sabra. 

''Yes, but the poor things have hardly 
had a holiday before in all their lives, and 
it pays for all the trouble just to see them 
so happy. I am glad they are of the poor- 
est, too, because I have the pleasure of 
helping them. It is a pleasure, Sabra, and 
I have been thinking I should turn my 
motto again, for I really believe I never 
enjoyed myself so much as I do now, work- 
ing for others.” 

" I knew you would enjoy it, and you 
seem to do it easily, too. I don't see, 
either, that you neglect any of your home 
duties.” 

" I try not to, but Susan West says I 
am sacrificing myself for a mere idea.” 

" For what is she sacrificing herself? ” 


Reading-Room and Coffee-Room, 271 

'' I can think, but I dare not say. The 
last time I saw her, she said she was de- 
pendent upon tonics and stimulants for all 
the strength she had ; and it would not be 
difficult to tell what the tonics are.” 

I wonder Angus does not try to influ- 
ence her to do differently.” 

‘‘ I presume he does, but there are three 
against one. You know Mrs. West con- 
siders herself an invalid, and Mr. West is 
a moderate social drinker. He did not 
learn a lesson with Mr. Latham. He would 
consider himself disgraced by signing a 
pledge of total abstinence, the same as Mr. 
Lyman would.” 

‘‘Yes, but he is a different man from 
Mr. Lyman, and he will not yield so much 
to his appetite. I am sorry for Mrs. Ly- 
man.” 

“ Sorry for her ! ” repeated Elva Harris. 
“ She looks heart-broken. I don’t suppose 
she would dare attend one of our temper- 
ance meetings, although she has given us 
so much substantial help. Mrs. Jones was 
delighted that her stockings sold so well. 


272 Miss Belindas Friends. 

and I am sure no one but Mrs. Lyman 
would have paid ten dollars for them. She 
will have an elegant home when their house 
is finished, but for all that I pity her.” 

Fayette Lyman would have been indig- 
nant, had he supposed, for a single minute, 
that any one considered his wife a woman 
to be pitied. He had wealth, position, and 
influence, in all of which she shared. 

She was young, beautiful, and accom- 
plished. She had servants to do her bid- 
ding, and a husband who had wooed her 
with passionate ardor, professing to have 
found in her all he sought of blessing ; yet 
even then there came between them the 
spirit of the wine-cup, which mocks ever 
at love and happiness. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


POVERTY DISTRICT. 

Grandmother Harris had intended re- 
turning home much sooner, but so many 
reasons were urged for prolonging her 
visit, it was not until the second day of the 
New- Year that she caught a glimpse of 
the old farm, to which even the animals 
seemed to welcome her. 

Nothing had suffered during her absence. 
The usual work had been done in the usual 
way, and results were satisfactory to all 
concerned. Jerry Simpkins, who was cut- 
ting lumber, presented himself in the even- 
ing, ready to give an account of what he 
had done. 

'' Better than all the rest, I know you 
have kept your pledge,'’ said Mrs. Harris, 
after listening to his report. ‘‘ Your face 
tells me that.” 

i8 


(273) 


2 74 Miss Belindds Friends. 

“Yes, ma’am; thank God I have kept 
it, and with His help I will keep it to the 
end,” was replied. 

“ Have you learned that you can not do 
it in your own strength ? ” 

“ Indeed, ma’am, I have. It has been 
the worst fight of my life. I came near 
giving up one day, but Patty Ainsworth 
happened along by the bridge where I was 
standing, looking down into the river, and 
as she passed me she said : 

“ ‘ It is better to look up than down. 
Help comes from above.’ 

“ ‘ Then I must look up, for I never 
needed help any more than I do now,’ I 
answered. 

“ ‘ I was thinking exactly the same thing 
only a little while ago,’ she said with a 
smile, and then she asked me if I had 
prayed for help. I told her I wasn’t a 
Christian, and so it wasn’t of any use for 
me to pray. 

“ But she talked to me a while, and after 
she left me, I went home and thought about 
it. It was a good many years since I had 


Poverty District 275 

been on my knees, but I must do some- 
thing, or I knew the devil would have me 
in his clutches again ; so I knelt down and 
cried, ‘ Lord, have mercy on me, and give 
me strength to keep my pledge/ I said 
the same words a good many times, and 
every time I said them, I felt surer of my- 
self, until at last I knew the worst was 
over/’ 

‘‘ Then you were helped.” 

‘‘Yes, ma’am; if I was ever helped in 
my life, I was helped then. I had strength 
given me to carry on the fight, and since 
then, when I have been hard pushed, I 
take to praying again.” 

“ I am thankful you have learned by ex- 
perience that the Lord is ready at all times 
to hear and answer prayer.” 

“ It seems too good to be true for such 
a man as I am ; but the women have a 
prayer-meeting to-morrow, and, to my mind, 
there’s nobody here needs praying for more 
than Mrs. Leighton and Morley.” 

“ Is Morley at home ? ” 

“ I don’t know. He has been at home. 


276 Mzss Belindas Friends. 

but he hasn’t been seen outside the house 
for several days. I took care of him 
one night, Mrs. Harris, and that was the 
hardest time I have had with liquor. When 
I found him, he had a bottle of whiskey in 
his pocket, and it seemed as though he was 
steeped in it. I worked over him, and 
prayed the Lord to keep me from drinking, 
at the same time. Morley Leighton needs 
praying for. If God don’t interpose to pre- 
vent, he will die a drunkard before he is 
thirty years old ; and I am thinking, too, 
he won’t be so much to blame for it, 
either.” 

It was this thought which made his par- 
ents so charitable in regard to him, and 
which gave an added tenderness to their 
treatment of him. His mother had begged 
her husband to take him from the asylum 
in which he was confined, and her plead- 
ings effected their purpose. 

Overjoyed to be again at liberty, he ac- 
knowledged that his punishment had been 
just, and promised to reform. Everything 
was done to encourage him. So far as 


Poverty District, 277 

possible, every temptation was removed 
from his path ; and his mother allowed 
herself to believe that better days were in 
store for them. 

Then he was missing, and a night of 
suspense followed a fruitless search for the 
absent son and brother. But very early 
the next morning, while the stars were yet 
shining, came Jerry Simpkins, informing 
his father that he was found, late the pre- 
vious evening, under the shelter of a large, 
overhanging rock, where he had evidently 
stopped to take a drink of whiskey, and 
where he might have died, had not some 
one rescued him from his perilous posi- 
tion. 

I carried him home and took care of 
him, and I should have come and told you 
sooner, only I was afraid to leave him 
alone. When I came away, he was fast 
asleep.'' 

And you say he had in his coat-pocket 
a bottle partly filled with whiskey. What 
did you do with the whiskey ? " asked Mr. 
Leighton. 


278 Miss Belinda! s Friends. 

“ I poured it into the snow, and then had 
hard work to keep from eating the snow,” 
was replied. “You don’t know what a 
fight Morley would have to make to keep 
sober the rest of his life. It seems to me, 
sometimes, I would rather die than keep it 
up for twenty or thirty years.” 

“It won’t last as long as that, Simpkins. 
The appetite for liquor will die out after a 
while.” 

“ I don’t know about that, sir. I have 
heard of some who inherited it, and it never 
left them. There is more to that than 
folks think.” 

“ I am afraid there is. But about Morley. 
I will be down for him as soon as I can, 
and I will pay you for taking care of him.” 

“ There is nothing to pay, Mr. Leighton. 
I would willingly take care of him for the 
next five years, if that would save him.” 

“ Thank you for your kindness. I wish 
I knew how he could be saved. If I was 
to begin over again with him, he should 
not even taste of sweet cider, if I could 
prevent it.” 


Poverty District, 279 

‘'You would be right in that, sir; but 
those of us who are grown up must do the 
best we can with the beginnings we had/' 

It was said by some that Morley Leigh- 
ton had called at Mr. Ainsworth's, when 
Patty refused to see him, and this had so 
vexed and mortified him, that he sought 
forgetfulness in intoxication. The truth 
was, however, that he had been drinking 
heavily when he demanded to see Miss 
Ainsworth, and her father had turned him 
from the door, 

“Do you suppose she cares for him?" 
asked Elva Harris of her grandmother, as 
they were talking of these two young peo- 
ple, whose relations to each other were so 
generally. understood. 

“ Of course she cares for him," was re- 
plied. “ It is not easy to unlove, and Patty 
Ainsworth is a girl of strong feelings. I 
presume that she has sometimes been half 
tempted to marry him and bide her fate ; 
but she knows she has done right in dis- 
carding him ; and having done it, she will 
not allow herself to be wretched over it, 


200 Miss Belindas Friends. 

although his conduct is a terrible grief to 
her. 

“ Her decision, too, has had an influence 
upon others, and some young men who are 
not total abstainers find themselves in less 
favor with young women who have re- 
ceived new light upon certain social ques- 
tions. There is no other so bad as Morley 
Leighton, but moderate drinking is enough 
to condemn a man as unworthy to be 
trusted.” 

“ Grandmother, what will becorne of the 
world, unless temperance principles pre- 
vail ? ” 

“ They must prevail. That is what we 
are working for ; and as fast as one set of 
workers are retired or called up higher, 
another set must take their places. I don’t 
suppose either you or I will live to see the 
day when there will be no alcoholic liquor 
drank ; but we can do our part towards 
making its use unpopular and disgraceful. 
Besides, we must help people to see that 
its use is wrong. 

“ Patty Ainsworth has begun in the right 


Poverty District, 


281 


place, with the children. Mr. Simpkins 
told me that the scholars in Poverty Dis- 
trict are to give a temperance entertain- 
ment in their school-house next Tuesday 
evening. It is to be under the direction of 
Patty, and the teacher, a poor girl who has 
good reason to hate liquor of all kinds.'’ 

Poverty District ! What a name ! ” 
exclaimed Elva. 

The name is appropriate. It is the 
most poverty-stricken district in town. The 
farms were good, but they have been al- 
lowed to run down, until the old mowing 
fields are fit only for pasturing. They 
were taken on mortgages from the original 
owners, and Mr. Simpkins says that since 
people have begun to look it up, they find 
that three-quarters of all the land in the 
district has gone for liquor. When a drink- 
ing man puts a mortgage on his farm, it 
generally spreads, until it covers the whole 
of it. 

‘‘ Most of the houses are rented to fam- 
ilies who are glad to find a shelter any- 
where, and who move about as necessity 


282 


Miss Belindas Friends, 


compels them. There are old orchards, 
bearing an abundance of cider apples every 
year, and there is an old mill for grinding 
the apples. Last fall Patty Ainsworth per- 
suaded the women and children to dry the 
apples, promising to find a market for 
them ; so there was less cider made than 
usual. 

She goes the rounds of the district 
once a month with tracts and papers, and 
I think most of the women and young 
people have signed the pledge she always 
carries with her. She has gained the good- 
will of the men, too, and I have no doubt 
the school-house will be crowded Tuesday 
evening. Patty counts on the entertain- 
ment as a great help in her temperance 
work. It will be a good thing for you to 
go, as you may get some hints which will 
be of advantage to you ; and besides, I 
want to hear all about it myself. Then 
there is the prayer-meeting to-morrow. 
We must both attend that.” 

'' Is it only a prayer-meeting ? ” 

‘‘ Only a prayer-meeting — the most im- 


Poverty District. 


283 


portant meeting of all. No man or woman 
is fully qualified for temperance work un- 
less able to offer the fervent, effectual 
prayer of the righteous, which availeth 
much. There is where our strength lies ; 
and there is where the drunkard’s strength 
lies. If you would take from him the ex- 
hilaration he gets from liquor, you must 
give him something to supply its place.” 

‘‘ But all temperance workers are not 
Christians, grandmother. I am not a Chris- 
tian.” 

More is the pity, child. If you are not 
a Christian, on your way to Heaven, how 
are you to lead the children there who 
come to be taught by you in Sunday- 
school ? ” 

'' I don’t know. I think, every Sunday, 
how much better Sabra would do for them. 
She could lead them, while I can only di- 
rect them.” 

You will lead them soon. I feel sure 
you will ; but if you do not choose to go 
w^th me to-morrow, I can go alone.” 

No more was said in regard to this, but 


284 Mzss Belindci!s Friends, 

the next day Elva Harris made one of the 
company of women who met to pray for 
God's blessing upon their efforts to save 
the erring and unfortunate. At the open- 
ing of the meeting, Mrs. Leighton said 
brokenly : 

‘'There is no one more unfortunate than 
I am. Pray for me, that I may have strength 
to bear all which may come upon me. I 
have brought it upon myself. I acknowl- 
edge that ; but my punishment is too ter- 
rible. I can not avert it. My only hope 
is for strength to bear it, while I do what 
I can to save others from a like fate." 

Such prayers as followed are rarely heard. 
It was as if, shut out from all earthly help, 
each heart reached out toward the Infinite 
Saviour. Young and old alike offered their 
petitions — short, fervent, and comprehen- 
sive. 

“ I listened for your voice," said Patty 
Ainsworth to Elva Harris, when they met 
at the close of the exercises. 

“ I never pray," replied Elva. 

“ Never pray ! " was repeated in a tone 


Poverty District, 285 

of surprise. I am so sorry. I must pray 
for you, I will put your name on my list. 
I could not live without praying. It is 
such a comfort and help.” 

At this moment some one called the 
speakers attention, and Elva Harris did 
not see her again until Tuesday evening, 
when superintending an entertainment as 
novel as it was impressive. 

Among the spectators were Helen and 
Morley Leighton, the latter carrying him- 
self like a gentleman, and seeming to enter 
into the spirit of the occasion. Why he 
had cared to be present no one could un- 
derstand, least of all his sister, who had 
consented to accompany him only after re- 
peated solicitations. 

She had hardly dared trust him, al- 
though, when they left home, she knew 
him to be perfectly sober, as he had been 
throughout the evening. They had gone 
but a few rods, however, on their return, 
when she was made aware that he had 
been drinking whiskey. His breath be- 
trayed him, and presently the restiveness 


286 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


of the high-spirited horse he was driving 
showed that the reins were held by un- 
steady hands. 

She dared not utter a word of caution, 
lest it should arouse her brother’s anger 
and precipitate the danger she feared. It 
came full soon. The horse sprang aside 
from the trodden path, dashing the sleigh 
against a rock, and leaving the brother and 
sister buried in snow. This detained the 
horse but for a moment ; the next, he was 
again in the track, rushing onward at fright- 
ful speed. 

Those who were immediately behind 
stopped to give assistance, while those who 
were in advance turned back at sight of the 
fleeing horse, from which they barely es- 
caped serious injury. 

Helen Leighton assured her friends that 
she was not hurt ; but Morley was severely 
bruised, and quite unable to stand when 
assisted to his feet. He talked incoher- 
ently, muttering imprecations upon those 
around him, and insisting that he needed 
no help in any way. 


Poverty District, 


287 


After this he fell to the ground, appar- 
ently unconscious, and it was with diffi- 
culty he was lifted into a sleigh, where he 
was supported by two young men, who 
were desired to take him home as quickly 
as possible. 

It will nearly kill mother,’' sobbed Hel- 
en Leighton, turning to Patty Ainsworth, 
who was seated beside her. I sometimes 
wish we could all die before going any 
further as we are now. It is too dreadful 
to be endured.” 

For answer to this there was only the 
closer clasping of an outstretched hand ; 
and not another word was spoken by either 
until they reached Mr. Leighton’s house, 
where Morley had arrived some moments 
before. 

'' Thank God you are not a drunkard’s 
wife,” said Mr. Ainsworth, when later his 
daughter told him what had occurred. 

‘‘ Thank God,” she repeated softly ; yet 
there was a quiver in her voice which told 
of other emotions than those of thankful- 


ness. 


CHAPTER XXIL 


PATTY Ainsworth’s work. 

It was Patty Ainsworth’s work. Despite 
the prophecies of friends, who saw no 
reasonable hope of success, and the ridicule 
of others, who sneered at the idea of 

women managing the town,” she chose 
Poverty District as her especial field of 
labor, 

Frofti the time she first began her visi- 
tations, the dwellers in this district had 
been gradually gaining in self-respect, and 
the respect of their neighbors ; yet few 
outside its limits dreamed how great a 
change had been wrought in them. 

'' They can’t be beat,” remarked a man, 
who had before said that the exhibition 
would do more for temperance than all the 
preaching of ministers had ever done. If 
the boys can be kept from drinking, and 

(288) 


Patty Ainsworth! s Work, 289 

the girls can be kept from marrying men 
who drink, there will be some hope for them ; 
but I couldn’t help wishing they could have 
a fair chance in the world.” 

They can have a fair chance,” was re- 
plied. It is time for the tables to be 
turned. Rum has been bringing down one 
generation after another, and now this gen- 
eration is going up. Old Esquire Onder- 
donk’s great-grandchildren may honor his 
name more than he ever honored it, al- 
though he was one of the first men in town 
in his day. I have heard my grandfather 
talk a great deal about him. Strange that 
now, of all his thousand acres, not one of 
his descendants owns a single foot. He 
built the old hip-roofed house where one 
of his granddaughters lives as the wife of a 
drunkard.” 

'' Is Mrs. Harper his granddaughter? ” 
She is, and if her boys keep on as they 
have begun with Patty Ainsworth, they may 
retrieve the family fortunes in spite of their 
father ; or, possibly, he may be drawn into 
magic circle, and lend a helping hand.” 

19 


290 Miss Belindas Friends, 

Was old Esquire Onderdonk a drunk- 
ard?" 

He was not called so, although he was 
a heavy drinker. He could carry off more 
liquor than men of these times, and often 
boasted that the bottom of his glass never 
was so thick that he couldn't see both sides 
of a bargain through it. When he died, 
there was no mortgage on his property of 
any kind, but very soon after his sons 
came into possession of it, all that was 
changed. They hadn't as strong heads as 
their father, and the land went by pieces, 
until it was all gone ; although I think two 
of the sons managed to save a little money 
from the wreck. 

It wouldn't be the strangest thing in 
the world if some of the land should 
come back into the family. The Harper 
boys are smart, and Patty Ainsworth knows 
how to appeal to their ambition. She 
won't leave any stone unturned to bring 
them up to the mark. People say she just 
governs Poverty District school, this win- 
ter. That girl that gets pay as teacher 


Patty AinswortKs Work. 291 

couldn't do it, but she can teach them what 
they need to learn ; so between the two, 
everything- goes on all right" 

'' It is a pity Patty Ainsworth hadn't as 
much influence over Morley Leighton. 
Wonder if she didn’t thank her stars that 
she had done with him.” 

“ More likely she thanked the Lord. 
She asks Him for help, and thanks Him for 
the help she is sure to get. She can lead 
a meeting as well as a minister, and there 
are boys and girls in Poverty District who 
can talk and pray more acceptably than a 
good many older Christians. Five or six 
years ago, no one would have expected such 
changes, but we may live to see greater.” 

‘‘ We may. I believe I am prepared for 
almost anything ; but can you tell me how 
Morley Leighton managed to get drunk 
between the close of the exhibition and the 
time he drove to the door for his sister ? ” 
'' He went out while they were singing 
the last time, so that he had fifteen or 
twenty minutes, when there was no one to 
see what he was doing.” 


292 Miss Belinda s Friends, 

He must have planned for it, or, at 
least, he must have provided for it, or the 
liquor would not have been at hand.” 

Of course. He drove to the Falls in 
the afternoon, and probably bought it there. 
After all Mr. Leighton has said and done, 
no one in town would be likely to sell to 
him.” 

'' No, and selling liquor is getting to be 
unpopular, anyway. So much temperance 
talk, and temperance singing and reading 
keeps up the excitement ; and when the 
women take hold of anything in such dead 
earnest as they have this, the men must 
follow where they lead.” 

That is so ; and the minute the women 
of the country say that liquor-selling and 
liquor-drinking shall stop, it will stop; and 
if to-day, every Christian woman would 
come to the front in this war against alco- 
hol, brewers and distillers would soon beat 
a retreat. 

'' I don’t care anything about women 
voting in politics, one way or another, but 
when it comes to questions of temperance, 


Patty Ainsworth' s Work. 293 

I think the wives and mothers ought to be 
counted, as they bear the heaviest part 
of the burden. Among men of only aver- 
age means, what is spent for liquor is just 
so much taken from the comfort of women 
and children. Such a man as Mr. Leigh- 
ton could afford the money expense of 
wine-drinking, and perhaps what Morley 
spends for liquor will make no great differ- 
ence with him.'' 

'' Spending that, Morley will squander 
much more, and larger fortunes than Leigh- 
ton's and his wife's together have gone 
through drink ; although when a young 
man begins as Morley has, his race is gen- 
erally short. He can’t stand such excesses 
many years, and for one, I think the sooner 
he gets through the better. I suppose he 
was pretty badly bruised, last evening, but 
he will be out again before long." 

No one seemed anxious in regard to his 
injuries. It was expected that he would 
soon recover, and while some thought he 
might possibly have learned a lesson which 
would restrain him in future, it was the 


294 Miss Belindas Friends. 

general opinion that he was past hope. 
Even Jerry Simpkins had given him up. 

“ He knows all about it, better than 
anybody can tell him,” said this man, who 
held on his way in strength given from 
above. “ He knows what his chances are 
without liquor, and he knows what they 
are with it. If he would keep sober, he 
could look straight over his father’s head 
in ten years, and take his choice of places. 
Poor fellow ! I pity him, but I can’t help 
him. I thought I could, but he is beyond 
my reach.” 

“ I am afraid there is no hope for him, 
although God’s grace is sufficient to re- 
claim the vilest sinner,” said Grandmother 
Harris. “ I pray for him, but perhaps I 
lack faith to pray aright. His sister’s life 
is one long agony of prayer for him, and 
yet he has disappointed and grieved her 
beyond all words to express.” 

“ Do you suppose Patty Ainsworth prays 
for him ? ” asked Elva. 

“ Not with such agonizing earnestness. 
There were many months when she spent 


Patty Ainsworth' s Work, 295 

hours every day in praying for him ; but 
since she has put him out of her life, she 
wishes to put him out of her thoughts, as 
she could not while making him the burden 
of her prayers/' 

'' I understand it, grandmother. She 
feels that she has done all she can for him, 
and she does not wish to be made misera- 
ble by thinking of him, as of course she 
must, if she was constantly praying for him." 

'' That is it, child. She had a long 
struggle over it, questioning what was her 
duty, and I have no doubt she prayed earn- 
estly for wisdom." 

‘‘ She seems to pray over everything." 

She does, and that is the great secret 
of her success." 

Does she pray with the children when 
she has meetings for them ? " 

‘‘ Certainly. A meeting without prayer 
would do very little good." 

'' Then I can do very little good. I 
must either stop my temperance work, 


She did not name the alternative, but 


296 Miss Belindas Friends, 

when she met her Sunday-school class 
again, she talked to them in a way entirely 
new for her. In her next visit to the rook- 
ery, when she gathered the children into 
the room where they had often met before, 
she kneeled down, and prayed for them 
and with them, ‘‘every bit as good as Miss 
Sabra/' 

“ I wish you would take my place in the 
boys’ temperance meeting,” said her sister 
one evening, when a severe headache made 
it imprudent for the latter to go out. 

“ Tell me what will be expected of me,” 
she replied ; and when told, consented to 
go without further comment. 

The society still met in Miss Belinda’s 
home, overflowing, if necessary, into the 
room occupied by the Bedlows. Miss Be- 
linda was not present, but there were 
twenty girls and boys waiting for their 
leader. A little disappointed at first, yet 
soon reconciled to the change, they joined 
in the opening hymn, and then bowed rev- 
erently, while a short, simple prayer was 
offered. 


Patty Ainsworth's Work. 297 

Elva Harris had something new to say 
to them. She always had something new 
to say, and this occasion furnished no ex- 
ception to the rule. The members of the 
society were prepared to do their part, but 
she was fully able to supply all which might 
otherwise have been lacking. 

'' There are two of them, and I thought 
there was only one,” said Teddy Fritter to 
Micky McGill, who had stopped to consult 
with his friend. She is a Christian, the 
same as Miss Sabra, else she couldn’t pray 
so well.” 

This was a boy’s opinion, but Elva Har- 
ris made no claim to being a Christian. 
Had she been asked, she would have said 
decidedly that she was not a Christian. 
But her work needed prayer ; and if it did 
not bring a blessing to herself, she trusted 
others might be helped. 

‘‘ Elva Harris has taken to praying,” re- 
marked Susan West to her brother ; partly 
because she could think of nothing more 
interesting to say to him, and partly because 
she wished to know how he would receive it. 


298 Mzss Belindas Friends. 

There is need that all women should 
pray/’ he replied. 

What of the men ? ” she asked quickly. 

‘‘ They need to pray even more than 
women.” 

'' Why, Angus, I really believe you are 
getting pious.” 

'' I wish I was pious, in the deepest, ho- 
liest sense of that word. And, Susan, I 
wish you were more like Sabra and Elva 
Harris. You ought to be helping in tem- 
perance work, if for no other reason than 
because it is popular.” 

'' It may be popular, here and now, but 
this is only a small village of mechanics and 
working people. I hope not to live here 
always, and when I go away, I expect to 
find very different people with very differ- 
ent manners. As for you, you are getting 
to be as fanatical as even Miss Belinda, 
who thinks everything depends upon a 
mug of beer or a glass of wine or whiskey. 
I have no sympathy with such fanaticism. 
I suppose you will do as you please, and I 
claim the same privilege. Because an ac- 
cident ” 


Patty Aznswoj^tk's Work. 299 

Don't speak of that," cried Angus 
West, in a tone his sister dared not disre- 
gard. '‘You ought to thank God, as I do 
every waking hour of my life, that no worse 
has befallen me." 

Here he paused, until by sheer force of 
will he compelled his sister to meet his 
steady gaze, when he said : 

" There was a time when I was in im- 
minent danger of becoming a drunkard, and 
I believe you to be in as great danger now 
as I was then. I have seen you more than 
once, when I knew you were under the in- 
fluence of some alcoholic stimulant. I don’t 
care what you call it — beer, bitters, cordial, 
or wine — it all amounts to the same thing, 
and produces the same result. It is time 
for you to stop tampering with such dan- 
gerous drinks. The longer you indulge 
in them the harder it will be for you to give 
them up, as you must, or become a con- 
firmed tippler." 

" If any one else had dared accuse me as 
you have, I would cut his acquaintance 
forever," said Susan West, when her an- 
ger allowed her to speak. 


300 Miss Belindas Friends, 

''You will not cut my acquaintance/' 
was replied quietly. " We are only two, 
and can not afford to quarrel. You are my 
only sister ; I am your only brother. We 
have both been in fault, but we may yet 
redeem the past. I am trying to do this. 
Will you help me ? Will you sign a pledge 
of total abstinence with me 1 " 

" You have asked me that question be- 
fore ; and I have no different answer to 
give from what I have given. I do not 
class myself with drunkards who need to 
reform, and can find no better way of doing 
it than by signing the pledge. I am not 
like Reegan, the saloon-keeper.” 

In making this last remark, Susan West 
spoke truly ; for there was no more earn- 
est, honest temperance-worker in town 
than Pat Reegan, the former saloon-keep- 
er ; unless it might be his son, little Pat, 
who never forbore speaking for the cause 
when there was an opportunity. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


CAUSE FOR THANKFULNESS. 

The reading-room and coffee-room were 
well established and well patronized ; proofs 
of interest and zeal in the work of reform 
which could not be ignored. 

Several fines, imposed upon liquor-sell- 
ers for violation of the license law, con- 
vinced them that they had no favor to ex- 
pect from those who were resolved to put 
down the traffic. The outlook for them 
was discouraging. Competition was sharp, 
and customers comparatively few. 

Young men found better occupation for 
their evenings than sitting in smoky, filthy 
saloons, listening to profane and ribald 
talk. The churches provided social weekly 
entertainments, making especial effort to 
bring in strangers and those who were 
away from their homes. 


(301) 


302 Miss Belindas Friends, 

This was not all easily done. It re- 
quired some sacrifice on the part of those 
whose resources were ample for their own 
happiness and improvement ; yet these 
sacrifices were cheerfully made, and it was 
wonderful how much of hitherto latent 
talent was developed. Moreover, so many 
were engaged in the work, that the inspira- 
tion of numbers kept thern always on the 
alert. 

Looking deeper into the causes of hu- 
man misery, the men and women who had 
banded themselves together to fight the 
evil of intemperance were convinced that 
they who would win souls for Christ must 
also win these souls from the debasing in- 
fluence of alcohol in all its forms. Chris- 
tian work and temperance work were to 
them synonymous terms. Sabbath services 
were better attended, and social religious 
meetings better sustained. 

No one could deny that the town had 
been benefited. All legitimate business 
prospered. Houses were renovated and 
fences repaired. With the opening spring, 


Cause for Thankfulness, 303 

the tenants of a few old buildings, long 
rented to poor families, demanded better 
accommodations. New doors and win- 
dows were put into the house occupied by 
Miss Belinda and her friends. 

Do your part, and I will do mine,’' said 
the landlord heartily, although he had been 
considered overbearing and penurious. 
‘'Together, we can make one of the finest 
places in the village.” 

“And when it is made fine, will you 
turn us out for grander folks ? ” asked 
Teddy. 

“ Not as long as you pay your rent,” 
was replied. “ Besides, I shouldn’t know 
where to look for any grander folks. You 
are all working as busy as bees, and grow- 
ing richer every day.” 

“ Do you think I’ll ever be rich, sir ? ” 

“No doubt of it. Y ou have started right, 
and your brother will make money with 
his flowers, if he can’t do it in any other 
way. I have been watching all of you in 
the house, and I am so well satisfied with 
my tenants, I shall do my best to keep 


304 Miss Belindas Friends. 

them. I don’t want them to get so far 
ahead of me, that they will leave for better 
quarters.” 

“ It is just temperance that made him 
talk so,” remarked Teddy, after reporting 
the interview to Miss Belinda. “ He be- 
longs to the men’s society, and he has 
promised to do all he can to help every- 
body. He comes into the coffee-room 
about once a week, and he always buys a 
bag of peanuts for somebody. He praised 
Johnnie, and I tell you that did me lots of 
good.” 

John Fritter had not thought of selling 
his plants ; but the suggestion once made, 
he selected two of the most thrifty, which 
Teddy carried to the store of a temperance 
friend, in whose large show-windows they 
could be seen to advantage. 

“ They will be gone before night,” said 
this friend, who was quite willing to take 
charge of them ; and his prediction proved 
true. 

They were sold at remunerative prices, 
and when the money obtained for them was 


Cause for Thankfulness. 305 

placed in his hand, John Fritter knew what 
his work was to be. He had already made 
a good beginning. The sunny south win- 
dows of his mother’s kitchen were filled 
with plants in bloom, while cuttings and 
seedlings, in large boxes, which had been 
carefully kept from the cold, during winter, 
were now ready for transplanting. 

I had a good deal rather take care of 
them than do anything else,” said the 
young florist, as he counted his treasures. 

'' Then take care of them,” answered his 
brother. Get all the plants you can, and 
I will sell them for you, if I have to go to 
the city with them. ,I like to sell things.'’ 

'' I am glad you do, Teddy. I am glad 
you are different from me, but you see I 
can't ever be like you.” 

'' Miss Belinda says we shouldn't ever 
want two in the family alike. I couldn't 
make plants grow and blossom as you do. 
Miss Sabra says it seems as though they 
did it just out of good-will to you. Next 
summer you can have beds and beds of 
them in the garden, and. perhaps I can sell 


20 


3o6 Miss Belinda s Friends. 

some bouquets. Y ou put them together so 
nice, I shouldn’t wonder if I could. Any- 
way, I can try.” 

Then likely you’ll do it, Teddy. You 
always do what you want to. I wish I 
could. Sometimes it seems as though I 
was just falling away to nothing.” 

Pull yourself up then, Johnny, and ask 
God to help you. You can’t fall away 
when you do that. It wouldn’t do now, 
either, when you have only just begun. 
Besides your plants, you can raise vegeta- 
bles and strawberries, and I can sell them. 
We must do as well as we can, so as to 
make a good show for temperance. We are 
bound to do it. We are going to stay here 
right along, and when anybody has a home 
like this, he can afford to work. There 
isn’t a better spot for a garden in-town. 
Why, I expect you will earn more than I 
can possibly.” 

'‘Then, Teddy, you can go to school 
and be a scholar.” 

" I don’t believe I shall. I can’t afford 
it, and, besides, I can’t stop — there are so 


Cause for Thankfulness, 307 

many things I want to do. I shall keep 
on studying, though, and now Miss Elva 
has written out a course for me, I shall 
know just how fast I get along. Then she 
and Miss Sabra are going to ask me ques- 
tions, once a month, and if I am not all 
right, I can go over the lessons again. I 
know about interest now. Miss Belinda 
taught me, and she has taught Henry Bed- 
low a good many things he didn’t know 
before. I am glad she came to live here.” 

Many others had reason to be glad — 
most of all, herself She had found not 
only remunerative employment, but im- 
proved health and faithful friends. She 
was already well known as an intelligent, 
capable woman, whose energy and religious 
faith had sustained her under the most try- 
ing circumstances. 

She was so thankful, too, for every ad- 
vantage gained, and every comfort enjoyed, 
that her face grew fairly radiant. Each 
new, glad morning was to her like a resur- 
rection ; and when the Easter bells rang 
out their call to prayer and praise, she 


3o8 Miss Belindas Friends. 

brought her grateful offering to the Lord. 
Secretly was this done ; yet one of the 
Lord’s own rejoiced over an unexpected 
gift, and prayed for an unknown bene- 
factor. 

John Fritter sent to the church his offer- 
ing of roses and lilies and smilax, which 
adorned the altar, while he occupied an 
obscure seat in a remote corner, listening 
reverently and joyfully to the words of the 
preacher. 

In the evening there was a praise meet-’ 
ing, when all who felt that they had any 
especial cause for thankfulness were re- 
quested to manifest it by rising. Most of 
the audience arose at once, and while they 
were standing a voice broke the silence. 

I am thankful the Lord brought me to 
this town six months ago. It was the most 
fortunate day of my life, although I was so 
poor I was glad to accept the invitation 
of a boy who asked me to go home with 
him and sleep in a barn. It wasn’t an ele- 
gant sleeping apartment, but I had occu- 
pied worse ones, and it was far better than 


Cause for Thankfulness. 309 

I deserved. I was a miserable drunkard — 
as low down as any man can well be — and 
I honestly thought it was impossible for 
me to reform. 

But, thank God, I left this town, better 
in every way than I came. I came hun- 
gry, ragged, and despairing. Here I was 
fed, clothed, and encouraged to believe it 
was not too late for me to put off my evil 
habits. I had the promise of a good man’s 
prayers ; yet when I went out of the barn, 
where I had found rest and shelter, I in- 
tended to gratify my thirst for liquor at the 
very first opportunity. 

But something hindered me. Some 
influence held me back, and softened my 
heart, until I was like a little child longing 
for home. I spent the next forty-eight 
hours alone in the woods, drinking from a 
spring of clear water, and eating only nuts 
and roots. 

I may have slept, but it seemed to me 
that every hour represented a whole life- 
time of agony. My sins passed in review 
before me, while the mocking demon of 


310 Miss Belindas Friends. 

alcohol was to me a real presence. I 
looked about for some means of self-de- 
struction, but as none offered, except what 
shocked even my hardened feelings, I de- 
termined to live ; and then came longings 
for a better life than I had before known. 

“ But I will not prolong my story. Per- 
haps I ought not to have intruded my ex- 
perience upon you, but if anybody has es- 
pecial cause for thankfulness, I have. I 
have not tasted a drop of liquor for six 
months, and I ask your prayers that I may 
never taste it again.” 

The audience was deeply moved at this 
recital, and before the first impression had 
passed away, another man testified to the 
benefits received through total abstinence. 
Then another, and another, until even chil- 
dren caught the spirit, and were so thank- 
ful that they would never be drunkards. 

Hymns were sung and prayers offered. 
The hour was too short for all who wished 
to give their testimony of gratitude, and at 
its close, some lingered to talk of what 
they had heard. 


Cause for Thankfulness. 3 1 1 

Dr. Harris, who, with Miss Belinda and 
Mrs. Fritter’s family, was the only one who 
recognized the first speaker, hastened to 
greet him. 

“ Mr. Mooney, I am glad to see you,” 
said the doctor heartily, extending his 
hand. 

“ Thank you ; I am more than glad to 
see you,” was replied. “ I have come a 
hundred and fifty miles to thank you for 
your kindness to me. I saw you in church, 
but I thought I would wait until morning 
before calling upon you. I had no inten- 
tion of saying a word in the meeting, this 
evening, but I spoke almost involuntarily.” 

“ Your speaking did good. It drew out 
some who have never spoken before, and 
who will be the stronger for expressing 
themselves. You have done me good, 
too.” 

“ In what way ? ” asked Luke Mooney, 
surprised at this remark. 

“You have increased my faith. I have 
prayed for you every day, as I told you I 
should, and so has Belinda Mann. You 


312 Miss Belindas Friends, 

remember her. She went to school the 
winter you were at your uncle’s.'' 

‘‘ What ! old Mann's daughter, who 
dressed worse than any other scholar in 
school, and beat us in all our lessons ? '' 

‘‘ The very same." 

'' And she prayed for me ! No wonder I 
couldn't go on drinking. I don’t know as 
she would speak to me, but I should be 
glad to ask her forgiveness for having 
treated her as I did." 

Teddy Fritter knew it was the man who 
slept in their barn, but he did not presume 
to claim any acquaintance. The next 
morning, however, as he was busy with 
his chickens, he heard his name called, and, 
turning around, saw Dr. Harris with a well- 
dressed gentleman ; the latter coming up 
to him, and addressing him as a friend. 

I was awful sorry you didn't stay longer 
when you were here before, but you have 
made it all up by coming again," said the 
boy, after their first greetings had been 
exchanged ; then adding quickly : ‘‘ We 
can give you a better place to sleep than 


Cause for Thankfulness. 313 

the barn. We have got a spare bed now, 
and we should be real glad to have you 
stay with us to-night.” 

'‘Thank you, my boy; I am glad you 
are so well off, but I must be a good many 
miles from here before night,” was replied ; 
and after a little further conversation, the 
gentleman went to call on Miss Belinda 
Mann. 

She received him pleasantly, and freely 
accorded the pardon he craved, while he 
congratulated her upon having done so 
much for herself and others. The call was 
necessarily short, as he was to drive with 
Dr. Harris to a station some miles away, 
to meet a train he would be sorry to miss. 

You did not tell me if you have a fam- 
ily,” said the doctor, as they were talking 
of people they had known when younger. 

“ I had a wife, and I have reason to be- 
lieve she is now living, although I have 
not seen her for five years. She left me 
then to return to her father s house. I 
didn't blame her for going, but after that, I 
went on worse than ever before.” 


314 Miss Belinda's Friends. 

“ Have you written to her that you have 
reformed ? ” 

“ No, I have not. I am considering 
what is best to do. I think she would 
come back to me, if she acted freely, but 
her father is a hard, proud man, who de- 
spises what he calls a temperance fanatic, 
even worse than he does a drunkard. He 
is rich, influential, and a church-member. 
There is the trouble with the temperance 
cause. There are too many professing 
Christians on the wrong side of the ques- 
tion.” 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


MR. LELANd’s boys. 

<<My girls are better off at home. I 
don’t want them taking part in public meet- 
ings and visiting liquor-saloons, looking 
after what don’t concern them. I can take 
care of them and my boys too.” 

Mr. Leland had said this when the wom- 
an’s temperance society was organized ; 
repeating it on various occasions, and al- 
ways with increased emphasis. He insisted 
that the agitation had aroused bitter feel- 
ings on the part of some who, because of 
it, were the more determined to continue 
in their chosen course. 

People can’t be driven, and some things 
not quite right are better let alone to die 
out of themselves, rather than provoke so 
much opposition. I don’t believe in so 
'many new-fashioned ways of managing. 

(315) 


3i6 Jkfiss Belindas Friends. 

There is a good deal more drinking than 
there used to be, before there was so much 
talk about women’s societies and total ab- 
stinence pledges. I expect my boys to 
come up all right. I think they can be 
trusted to me and their own common 
sense.” 

There was a time when these boys might 
have been easily persuaded to sign the 
pledge and join with other young people 
in temperance work, but they had gone 
down since then, and although their father 
did not see the change, their mother and 
sisters were fully aware of it. They talked 
loudly of independence and ability to man- 
age their own affairs, and resented any- 
thing like remonstrance on the part of 
friends. In all this, of course, they were 
encouraged by the controlling home influ- 
ence, to which they referred on all occa- 
sions. 

At last, however, Mr. Leland’s eyes were 
opened. Complaints were made to him 
which he could not ignore. Beer-drinking 
and the reading of vile literature were fast 


Mr. Leland's Boys. 317 

demoralizing some young men and boys, 
who had rendered themselves obnoxious 
to the better class of citizens. 

Your boys are of the number,'' said 
Mr. Leland’s informant. ‘‘ They seem to 
be running an opposition to our temper- 
ance society, and this is the outcome of it. 
They don't understand what an injury they 
are doing themselves ; and if they are 
treated judiciously now, they may be saved; 
but a single false move may ruin them. 
Young people must be interested in some- 
thing ; the only question is what that some- 
thing shall be." 

To say that Mr. Leland was shocked 
would but poorly express his feelings. He 
attempted at first to deny the charges 
made against his sons, reasoning that it 
was impossible they could be thus guilty ; 
yet even as he did this, circumstances, to 
which at the time he had given little heed, 
convinced him against his will. 

What shall I do ? " he exclaimed, for- 
getting that he was not alone. 

May I tell you as I have told others ? " 


Miss Belindas Friends. 


318 

asked his companion, who was no other 
than Mr. Ryeland. 

“ Yes ; if you have any idea what I can 
do, for mercy sake tell me,” was replied. 
“ I have been so proud of my boys, and, 
Mr. Ryeland, I am afraid I haven’t man- 
aged them right. Drinking beer, smoking, 
and reading bad books ! They couldn’t 
do much worse than that, could they ? ” 

“ Such habits would lead to something 
worse. You intended to do right with 
your boys, but, like many others, you 
needed to learn by experience that your 
wisdom was not infallible. Now in our 
temperance societies we have committees 
to look after just such cases, and if we can 
secure the co-operation of the parents, I 
think the boys can all be induced to change 
their habits.” 

“ I will do anything in my power to 
do.” 

“ Then, first, will you join our society, 
and so give us your influence ? ” 

Mr. Leland hesitated for a moment. To 
do this would be retracting his openly ex- 


Mr. LelancC s Boys. 319 

pressed opposition to the society ; yet there 
was too much at stake for him to refuse. 

You may count on me,” he said in a 
low tone. The woman’s society can de- 
pend upon my wife and daughters.” 

Will you say this in the presence of 
your boys, the first time you meet your 
family together ? ” 

‘‘ I will, Mr. Ryeland, and I thank you 
for coming to me. It is hard for me to 
give up old notions, but when I do give 
them up, they are gone forever. I won’t 
ask you the names of the boys who have 
joined with mine, but I should like to know 
if mine have been the ring-leaders.” 

In one way, Mr. Leland. As your 
sons, they hold a better position in society 
than the others, and if they come out on 
the right side, there is not much doubt but 
the others will follow.” 

The next morning, as the family were 
seated around the breakfast-table, Mr. Le- 
land remarked pleasantly : 

I have been thinking over the matter, 
and have finally concluded to join the tern- 


320 Afzss Belindas Friends. 

perance society, and go in, heart and hand, 
for the cause/' 

Why, father, I thought you didn’t be- 
lieve in such societies,” said his oldest son 
in a tone expressing the utmost surprise. 

No more did I, but I have been con- 
vinced against my will. I made a mistake, 
and I want you all to help me make up for 
it. We shall be obliged to* work hard to 
accomplish it, but we can afford to do some 
hard work. Wife, I have kept you and the 
girls from joining the woman’s society, and 
I am sorry for it. Whatever you may do 
now, I will help you in any way I can. I 
guess the boys are old enough to join with 
me, and that will enlist the whole family.” 

But, father, you have always said 
that ” 

I have said a good many foolish things, 
Solon, and I wish I could take them all 
back ; but I can’t, and the next best thing 
is to forget them. Let us start anew, and 
see how much better record we can make 
for ourselves.” 

This ended the colloquy, and before an- 


Mr, LelancCs Boys, 


321 


other temperance society meeting, so much 
pressure had been brought to bear upon 
the boys associated with the Lelands, they 
all signed the pledge together. Mrs. Le- 
land and her daughters joined the woman’s 
society, thus adding materially to its work- 
ing force, and greatly encouraging all con- 
nected with it. 

About this time two liquor-saloons were 
closed ; the proprietors going into other 
business, and virtually sacrificing their old 
stock in trade. 

Lost too many of their customers,” 
said Mr. Reegan. ‘‘ There isn’t a quarter 
as much liquor drunk in town as there was 
a year ago. As for beer, there has been a 
great cut-down on that. We counted on 
the boys and young men for that, but there 
are so many on the lookout for them now, 
that sales are small compared with what 
they used to be. I should be ashamed to 
tell you of the tricks of saloon men to get 
custom, and you would almost doubt my 
word too. A first-rate saloon-keeper goes 
in for making money any way and every 


322 Miss Belmdas Friends. 

way. He can’t afford to have any con- 
science or any heart. If he had either, he 
wouldn’t be fit for the business.” 

The speaker knew whereof he affirmed, 
and by his plain dealing helped to make 
ordinary liquor-selling more odious in the 
community. 

Wine-drinking is going out of fashion 
here,” remarked a gentleman well qualified 
to judge. The young ladies have set 
themselves so strongly against it, that it is 
not considered in good taste. Besides, the 
affair in which Will Latham nearly lost his 
life has had an influence not easily over- 
come.” 

Then do you think the fight nearly 
ended ? ” asked another gentleman. 

‘‘ Certainly not,” was replied. It is to 
be a steady, prolonged fight for I know not 
how many years. As fast as one good 
soldier is called up higher from the ranks, 
another must be ready to fill the place, be- 
fore an advantage can be gained by the 
enemy. The man or woman who enlists 
in this war should enlist for life.” 


Mr, Lela 7 id' s Boys, 323 

Shall we conquer in the end ? That 
is the question I often ask myself. We 
have done well in this town, but how is the 
State, the country, and the world to be 
carried for temperance ? '' 

By individual effort, by concerted ac- 
tion, and by prayerful, watchful pleading 
with those who are treading the dangerous 
road to ruin. Think how many have been 
saved right among us ; and so far as we 
ean judge, the work began with one young 
lady who was resolved to save one young 
man. He has proved to be worth saving 
too.” 

‘‘ I know who you mean, but there was 
never a human being so poor, or low, or 
vile, as not to be worth saving. Yet there 
are some we can never reach. For in- 
stance : Fayette Lyman glories in his wine- 
drinking, and boasts of his ability to drink 
an unlimited quantity without becoming in- 
toxicated.” 

'' If he means that he ean retain an up- 
right position, and talk so that his words 
can be understood, he may be right in say- 


324 Miss Belindas Friends, 

ing that he is not Intoxicated ; but I should 
be sorry to think he has no more judgment 
than he sometimes manifests. He is very 
unreasonable and overbearing with those 
who work for him. He will give an order 
one hour and countermand it the next. 
Mr. Ryeland told me himself if he was not 
under contract he would give up the job 
of building Lyman’s house.” 

He must be exasperating, and I pity 
his wife more, I believe, than any other 
woman I know. She has lost her bright 
looks and happy smile. She was an or- 
phan, alone in the world before he married 
her, and of course she had implicit confi- 
dence in him. He gives her plenty of 
money, but It takes more than money to 
make a woman like her happy.” 

I hope he will not come to the end of 
his money.” 

‘‘ I hope not, for his wife’s sake, but men 
with larger fortunes than his have reduced 
themselves to beggary. I have been told, 
too, that if others had their rights he would 
have a hundred thousand less than he has 


Mr, LelancCs Boys, 325 

now. His father was an unscrupulous man, 
bound to make money, no matter at whose 
expense, and there are some old people, 
living in poverty, who have reason to curse 
his memory.’^ 

Then the son is treading on more dan- 
gerous ground than I had supposed. If I 
believed myself living on such ill-gotten 
gains, I would endeavor to make restitu- 
tion, and so avert the curse. Do you sup- 
pose Mrs. Lyman knows of it ? ” 

I presume not, and probably it is not 
best she should. She knows enough now 
to make her unhappy.” 

This was too true. She could hardly 
tell when the first vague fear of Impending 
evil entered her heart. She had loved her 
husband with a devotion as unquestioning 
as it was sincere ; but as time went on she 
could not be blind to his faults. She had 
thought little of his wine-drinking habits 
until suffering from his coarseness and 
cruelty. 

Then came to her a revelation before 
which all the sorrows of her past life seemed 


326 Miss Belindas Friends. 

insignificant. It was no wonder that, losing 
faith in her husband, she lost her bright 
looks. She, better than any one else, knew 
how far he could indulge his craving for 
wine and retain something like self-control. 
She knew, too, how, when all restraint was 
thrown off, he drank until he reached a 
state of maudlin intoxication, to be suc- 
ceeded by a fit of causeless anger, when 
she even feared for her life. 

Unwilling to expose him, and too proud 
to complain, one day went by after an- 
other, each leaving her more unhappy than 
the preceding, when at last her health gave 
way, and Dr. Harris was consulted. 

Quick to see the cause of her weakness 
and suffering, he prescribed entire change 
of scene, cheerful company, and freedom 
from care. Above all, he charged her not 
to be troubled over what was beyond her 
power to control. 

Be a child again,” he said cheerfully. 

That is what we all need sometimes. 
We are careful and troubled about many 
things, when we ought to look on the bright 


Mr, Lelands Boys, 327 

side and thank God for His mercies. Some- 
times there will come over me such a long- 
ing to go back to my old home, and my 
old ways of finding pleasure in the woods 
and by the brook, that I feel obliged to 
give up my business for a few days, and 
fish and hunt as I did when a boy. Then 
I come back with a new lease of life, ready 
to take up my burdens again and go on 
my way rejoicing.'' 

But burdens are so different, doctor. 
There are some we can not lay down even 
for an hour." 

“ Then we must pray for strength to 
bear them without being crushed by them. 
You believe in prayer, Mrs. Lyman." 

‘‘ I was taught to believe in it, but I have 
wandered far from my childhood’s faith." 

Can you not go back to it ? ” 

'' I don’t know that I have any right to 
go back. Perhaps I might, if I could go 
to my childhood’s home. I have been 
thinking of it the last few days, and wish- 
ing I could drink from the cool spring 
where my mother used to send me with 


28 


Miss Belinda's Friends. 


my little tin pail for water. It has seemed 
to me it would stop this feverish thirst 
which tortures me.” 

“ Go there, Mrs. Lyman. It will do you 
good ; and if you find it pleasant, stay for a 
few weeks, and see what effect the change 
will have upon you.” 

“ But I can not go alone, doctor, and 
my husband has business in another direc- 
tion. Do you suppose Miss Belinda would 
go with me, and take care of me ? I am 
not acquainted with her, but I have seen 
her, and I know I can trust her.” 


CHAPTER XXV. 


CHANGES. 

Not a child, dipping carefully with a lit- 
tle tin pail from the spring, gushing clear 
and cold, but a lovely woman, filling her 
silver drinking-cup again and again with 
the sparkling water. 

Oh, if she could only go back to the old 
days, with her life before her, and the lib- 
erty of choice as it had been ere Fayette 
Lyman crossed her path ! If she had never 
seen him ! At thought of this, she clasped 
her hands tightly, remembering her happi- 
ness in loving and being loved, when the 
world seemed to hold no more for her to 
desire. 

Standing there the possessor of all which 
money could buy ; elegantly dressed, and 
with no thought for to-morrow’s needs, 
many would have looked upon her envi- 

(329) • 


330 Miss Belindas Friends. 

ously, nor dreamed of the sorrow which 
filled her heart. 

This was her first visit to the old home 
where her parents had died, and so far 
from being a pleasure, it had awakened so 
many sad memories, that she half wished 
it might be her last. The hotel at which 
she was boarding was only a few miles 
away, and having obtained permission of 
the present occupants of the farm, she was 
free to come whenever she pleased. 

It is not as I thought it would be,” she 
said to Miss Belinda, who waited for her 
in a carriage, and who was her almost con- 
stant companion. I have learned that 
we can not turn back a single page in the 
history of our lives. Do you never wish 
that you could ? ” 

''Not now,” was replied. "I used to 
wish I could go over some part of my life 
again, but I am satisfied now to go on and 
leave the past as it is.” ^ . 

'* I wish I could feel so, but I am always 
fearing. There is always a shadow across 
my path, haunting me day and night. 


Changes, 


331 


Sometimes it is like a huge bird, flapping 
its black wings, and sometimes it is like a 
serpent, ready to spring upon me. I know 
it is not real, yet it haunts me all the 
same.'’ 

Miss Belinda could understand this ter- 
rible fear of impending evil, and as Mrs. 
Lyman became more confidential, she was 
able to give advice and counsel. 

‘‘ If my husband would only give up 
wine- drinking ! ” was at first the burden of 
the wife's utterances. ^ Then later, she con- 
fided to her friend the belief that he gam- 
bled — in that way sometimes losing large 
sums of money. So you see everything 
is against me,” she said when this last con- 
fession was made. 

Not everything,” replied the woman, 
who had learned by years of discipline that 
if there is not some alleviating circum- 
stance, there is always help to be gained 
from One whose power is infinite, and 
whose love is also infinite. 

As Dr. Harris well knew, it was not 
medicine which Mrs. Lyman required. It 


332 Miss Belindas Friends, 

was simply reassurance and cheerful cour- 
age. A few weeks sufficed to prove that 
change of scene did not effect the desired 
result. Yet still she lingered, sometimes 
impatient for her husband’s return, and 
sometimes dreading his presence. 

At length, however, there came a change, 
so great as to seem to her miraculous. 
She accepted her fate even at its worst. 
She did not forget the danger which 
threatened, yet she was able to leave it all 
in the hands of Him to whom she looked 
as her Saviour. Gladness and joyous hap- 
piness she did not expect, but she was at 
peace with herself and with God. 

‘‘ I can rest now, and I shall soon be 
better,” she said to the friend who had won 
her from the darkness in which she had so 
long groped blindly. 

When her husband came, her health was 
so much improved, that she no longer re- 
quired the care of a nurse, although it was 
evident there existed the same cause for 
disquiet and anxiety which had so preyed 
upon her happiness. 


Changes. 


333 


Miss Belinda was thus at liberty to accept 
the invitation of Grandmother Harris, who 
welcomed her so cordially as a guest, she 
found it hard to realize her identity. There 
was the old house which had sheltered her 
and hers ; the apple-trees from which she 
had gathered fruit, and the brook where 
she had often fished for a breakfast she 
could not otherwise have obtained ; but all 
else was changed. 

Of the people she had known, both old 
and young, many had died ; while some who 
had scorned her in her girlhood had since 
learned the wretchedness of those who 
share a drunkard’s fate. 

I remember I used to wish we lived in 
Poverty district, because there were other 
children there no better off than I was,” 
she remarked to her hostess, as they were 
talking of the past. I was the only really 
poor girl who went to this school, and it 
was very hard for me to go so shabbily 
dressed, but I was determined to learn 
what I could. I should have cried over it 
if I had had time for any such indulgence.” 


334 Miss Belindas Friends, 

Poor child ; and worse than all the rest, 
you had no one to help you. Now, our 
woman's society has a committee to look 
after such cases as yours. The ladies do 
it, too, in such a way that no one need feel 
humiliated. We have learned that there is 
a more Christian way of dealing with chil- 
dren than to punish them for their parents' 
sins. Our temperance work has opened 
the way for more strictly religious work ; 
and the town has been canvassed in the 
interest of both temperance and religion. 

'' Everybody is invited to attend church. 
The young people and children from Pov- 
erty district are constant attendants at 
church and Sunday-school. Many of the 
older people come, too, and you would 
know by the windows and the fences that 
a thorough reform is going on. Patty 
Ainsworth has done most of it, and I am 
looking to see her work on a broader scale 
before m.any years." 

'' And Morley Leighton — ^what a pity 
that she can not influence him." 

'Wes, but he seems beyond all human 


Changes, 


335 


influence. He has a mania for alcoholic 
drinks. It is inherited, and so almost, if 
not quite, beyond his control.’' 

“ Mrs. Harris, will you tell me why the 
boys of a family inherit this appetite, while 
the girls are free from it ? ” 

It is not always so. I have known 
some instances where daughters have come 
under the curse. There is a lady now 
boarding in town who is an example of 
this. When an infant, she was adopted by 
a gentleman and lady who gave her the 
advantages of education and refined home 
training. They treated her as if she was 
really their daughter, and she knew no 
other parents. After her marriage, her 
husband discovered that she had a fond- 
ness for wine ; and upon inquiry, he learned 
that her father, who died years before, was 
a confirmed sot. 

While with her foster-parents, her ab- 
normal appetite had not manifested itself, 
but, under different circumstances, it assert- 
ed its full power. She realized her danger, 
but she went straight on, except when, at 


336 Miss Belinda! s Friends. 

intervals, she was under some restraint. 
She has been confined in an asylum, but 
all to no purpose. 

“ She was anxious to come here to board 
with a cousin, and some of our temperance 
ladies have induced her to sign the pledge ; 
but there is little reason to expect she will 
keep it.” 

“ Poor woman ! I never thought to be 
thankful for not having a drunkard’s appe- 
tite ; but it is certainly cause for thankful- 
ness. There can be no greater curse. I 
am afraid I could not struggle against it 
all my life ; it would be so much easier to 
yield.” 

“You can not tell. No one can know 
how terrible it is except by experience. 
But when everything is at stake, both for 
this world and another, 'there must be help 
somewhere to give the victory over sin. 
The promise is sure : ‘ My grace is suffi- 
cient for thee.’ ” 

“ Such a precious promise ; and how 
much of suffering we should be spared if 
we could trust this promise before being 


Changes. 


337 


driven to it as a last resort. I had learned 
to trust it in part when younger, but it was 
not until I lay helpless upon my bed, be- 
lieving myself crippled for life, that I ac- 
cepted it in all its fullness. It sustained me 
then, and it has blessed me since. I have 
found friends in a most unexpected man- 
ner, and sometimes I have been able to do 
a little for others.'' 

You have always been doing for others, 
Belinda. You deserve rest, and if you 
will stay with me, I believe you can find it." 

Belinda Mann appreciated the kindness 
of her old-time friend, but she had too 
many home interests to be willing to leave 
them long. A letter from Teddy Fritter 
informed her that she was greatly needed. 
They all missed her so much, that he had 
been appointed a committee to urge her to 
come back. 

Eddie Gorman had been there, expressly 
to see her and tell her that his mother had 
a good home, and he hadn't tasted of liquor 
or tobacco since he took breakfast with her 
the last time. 

2 2 


338 Miss Belinda! s Friends. 

In conclusion, Teddy wrote that there 
was to be a grand temperance rally in the 
town-hall, and of course she would wish to 
be present. Martin Luther stayed at Mr. 
Crawford’s most of the time, and he and 
Johnny were afraid of losing him unless 
she came home pretty soon. 

It was a boy’s letter, badly written and 
badly spelled ; yet Miss Belinda could read 
it and understand all it was intended to 
express. It was a pleasure to her to know 
that she was missed ; and although the 
visit to her native town had been all, and 
more than she anticipated, she was glad to 
be on her way home. 

There a surprise awaited her. Her room 
had been painted, papered, carpeted, and 
supplied with some new articles of furni- 
ture. The painting and papering had been 
done by the landlord, and before she could 
ask to whom she was indebted for other 
improvements, Teddy exclaimed : 

“ Mr. Will Latham brought the carpet 
and we put it down. Our society paid for 
the chairs, and Henry Bedlow made the 


Changes. 


339 


table. We wished we could do ever so 
much more, and we will just as soon as we 
can. We hope you will like it, and have a 
real good time living here all the rest of 
your life.’' 

This, then, was the reward of some of 
her labors, but this was not all. The next 
day a gentleman called at the house desir- 
ing to see her, and after asking her some 
questions, announced himself as the man 
whose unsteady steps had caused the acci- 
dent resulting in her lameness. 

‘‘ I have always thought of you as crip- 
pled for life, and myself as responsible for 
it,” he said, when sure that he was speak- 
ing to the woman he had sought to find. 

I can not tell you how rejoiced I am to 
see you able to walk. It has sometimes 
seemed to me that I was no better than a 
murderer. You must have suffered.” 

''Yes, I have, and I have often won- 
dered if you kept the promise you made 
to me when I last saw you. I am sure 
now that you have, or you would not be 
here.” 


340 Miss Belindas Friends. 

I have kept it, and I have done what I 
could to induce others to make the same 
promise. You saved me. Your prayer 
helped me, and now that I am compara- 
tively rich, I have come to make what res- 
titution I can, with money, for the suffer- 
ing I caused you/' 

‘‘ I do not wish for money. If I have 
done you any good, I am more than repaid 
for all I suffered. The Lord raised up 
friends for me, and I am able to work and 
provide for all my needs. Give your money 
to help some poor, women who can not 
help themselves, and I will count it as 
given to me." 

With this he was forced to be content, 
and promising that she should hear from 
him again, he went his way to fulfill the 
second promise made to her. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


UNFINISHED WORK. 

PvE got the biggest order weVe ever 
had yet/’ exclaimed Teddy Fritter, as he 
sprang into the green-house, where his 
brother was busily at work. '' I got it, 
too, in the strangest way,” he continued. 
“ I stopped to talk temperance to some 
boys who were making fun of a drunkard, 
and while I was talking, a man jumped out 
of a cart and wante i to see what I had in 
my baskets. 

So I showed him, and he said anybody 
as strong for temperance as I was could be 
trusted. He bought everything I had, and 
took me to his store, where he sells fruits 
and vegetables. He said he had been 
thinking of brightening up the place with 
plants and flowers, and he was glad he saw 
me. I was glad too, I tell you, and I 
wrote down what he wanted. Here it is, 

(341) 


342 Miss Belinda! s Friends. 

and you can read it while I go over to see 
about Dr. Harris’ garden.” 

John Fritter read the order, and then 
looked around to see if it could be filled. 
When satisfied that this could be done, he 
returned to his work of potting plants from 
a large box in which they had been well 
started. 

Five years had wrought a wondrous 
change in him. He would never be as 
strong and self-reliant as his brother, yet 
he did the best of which he was capable ; 
gaining slowly but surely in all the essen- 
tial characteristics of a true manhood. 
Teddy was salesman, but he kept his own 
accounts, and knew exactly what outlay he 
could afford to make. 

He had proved himself worth saving, as 
had many others to whom a helping hand 
had been extended. He realized, too, from 
what he had been saved, never forgetting 
how much he owed to Sabra Harris, whose 
friendship he still enjoyed, and under whose 
instruction he had become an intelligent 
botanist. 


Unfinished Work. 


343 


If his appetite for alcoholic drinks was 
not dead, it certainly gave no outward signs 
of life. He lacked the persuasive powers 
which made Teddy so effective a reformer, 
but he could tell his own story with a sim- 
ple pathos which seldom failed to produce 
its effect. He was a striking example of 
the benefits of total abstinence, yet there 
were others whose improvement was 
scarcely less marked. 

The men living in the rookery at the 
time when Dr. Harris was called to visit 
Mr. Mclntire had become total abstainers, 
and were therefore able to provide for their 
families respectably. Several members of 
these families had joined the church at the 
same time as Elva Harris, with Mrs. Fritter 
and her sons, and Micky McGill, who could 
not be left behind by his friend Teddy. 

Temperance had served as the handmaid 
of religion, although, in some instances, 
professing Christians had been most pro- 
nounced in their opposition to aggressive 
temperance work. Time had changed the 
opinions of many, but it still remained true 


344 Miss Belinda! s Friends. 

that there was much of indifference where 
there should have been hearty co-opera- 
tion. 

Those who began the work continued 
it ; the leaders keeping resolutely at their 
posts, and doing all in their power to main- 
tain an unflagging interest. The reading- 
room and coffee-room were made con- 
stantly attractive. The visiting committees 
did their work faithfully, so that no stranger 
coming to the town had reason to complain 
of being neglected. 

In all these changes no one rejoiced 
more heartily than did Miss Belinda, who, 
however, divided her time between her 
own home and a home in the city, where a 
limited number of poor women could find 
shelter and rest. 

This is your charity,’’ said the gentle- 
man who had established the home and 
who desired her to take charge of it. ‘‘ It 
does not express a tithe of my gratitude to 
you, but it is the best I could do.” 

It is enough,” she answered. I have 
done nothing to deserve so many blessings, 


Unfinished Work, 


345 


and so many friends. I have more reason 
for gratitude than you, and I must express 
it by trying to help others, as the Lord 
gives me opportunity.’' 

She gave varied help to varied people ; 
to some in garrets and cellars, where pov- 
erty and vice held high carnival ; and to 
some in elegant dwellings, where sorrow 
and sickness and death had entered. 
Wherever she was most needed, there she 
gave her best ser\ ices. 

Teddy Fritter consulted her on all occa- 
sions. She knew what were his plans for 
purchasing the house in which they lived, 
and how much had been already saved 
toward making the first payment. The 
present owner had engaged to sell to him 
on easy terms, at the same time making 
all necessary repairs ; and if the years of 
waiting might seem long, Teddy was too 
busy to be impatient. 

Mrs. Lyman often sent for Miss Belinda ; 
clinging to her as the one earthly friend to 
whom she could confide her troubles, and 
upon whose friendship she could rely. 


34^ Miss Belindas Friends. 

When her husband died of a disease in- 
duced by his drinking habits, it was Miss 
Belinda who comforted and supported her, 
and when she found that only a pittance 
remained of the once large fortune, it was 
this friend who advised her how to make 
the most of the means at her disposal. 

“ O, Miss Belinda, I almost wish Susan 
West would be so sick, she would be glad 
to send for you, and you would put her upon 
the strictest regimen,” said Elva Harris, 
when returning from a call on this young 
lady. “ I found her, as usual, with a raging 
headache, and made my escape as soon as 
possible. There is no one but you could 
influence her.” 

“ I certainly could not. If her brother 
failed, I am sure that I should.” 

“ I was so sorry for Angus West when 
he went away ! I am sure he loved Sabra, 
and I am reasonably certain that she re- 
fused him, although she will not acknowl- 
edge it. Then there was Susan, a con- 
firmed tippler, if not a downright drunkard. 
Almost everybody else has been improving, 
but she has deteriorated in every way. 


Unfinished Work, 


347 


‘‘ There have been so many reforms, I 
don't see exactly how we can accomplish 
as much in the next six years, as we have 
in the last six. Grandmother says there is 
no Poverty district in her town now. When 
Patty Ainsworth began her work there, 
every man in the district drank liquor, and 
some of them were perfect sots. Two have 
died since then, and the rest are all teeto- 
talers. The Harper boys were the first 
to sign the pledge, and they are growing 
up, smart and intelligent. Their father has 
turned around, too, and Patty has helped 
him buy the house he lives in, with a hun- 
dred acres of land. People say most oi 
the money left her by her great-aunt has 
been invested in that district." 

'' I hope she will find the investment 
profitable." 

I have no doubt she will, although her 
largest dividends will not be in money. 
She is a wonderful girl, and she is doing 
more good than she ever could have done 
as Morley Leighton's wife." 

He is gone beyond her knowledge." 


348 Jkfzss Belindas Friends, 

Yes, and beyond the knowledge of his 
parents. Mr. Leighton told father they 
had not heard from him for nearly four 
years.” 

What these years have brought to the 
wanderer, God and himself only know. 
Living or dying, he has sent to his friends 
no tidings. It may be that his body rests 
in some Potter s field ; or worse, he may 
be the companion of criminals and outcasts. 

But he has not fallen alone. Other sons, 
over whom fathers and mothers have wept 
and prayed, have gone down the same 
road, to plunge at last into the same abyss 
of ruin. Then of still other sons, who 
could say with truth, ‘‘No man has cared 
for our souls,” a vast army has moved on- 
ward year by year to join the sad proces- 
sion. 

And yet the curse remains upon us. 
From homes desolated by the demon of 
intemperance, there goes up to heaven the 
cry of breaking hearts, mingled with that 
of starving children. Prison doors swing 
heavily to admit those whom alcohol has 


Unfinished Work, 


349 


maddened, until crimes are committed for 
which expiation must be made in solitude 
and silence, or upon the scaffold. 

This curse must be removed, or our 
country is doomed. This evil must be 
met and conquered, or we must acknowl- 
edge ourselves enslaved by the vilest en- 
emy ever invading a Christian land. 


THE END. 





'4 


■A 





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1 

25 

Glimpses at Two Lives 

50 

Brewer’s Fortune, The.... 

1 

50 

Glass Cable, The 

1 20 

Caught and Fettered 

1 

00 

Harry the Prodigal 

1 25 

Circled by Fire. 


40 

Hard Master, The 

S5 

Come Home, Mother 


50 

Harker Family, The . . . . 

1 IS 

Coals of Fire 

1 

60 

Her Inheritance 

1 80 

Consecrated 

1 

50 

His Honor the Mayor . . . 

1 35 

Curse of Mill Valley, The. 

1 

25 

History of a Threepenny 


Curse and the Cup, The . . 


40 

Bit . 

71 

Day with a Demon, A 


40 

History of Two Lives, The 

SO 

Drinking Fountain Stories, 


1 

Hopedale Tavern, and 


The 

1 

00 1 

1 What it Wrought 

1 00 

Dumb Traitor, The. 

1 

25 1 

Hole in the Bag, and Other 


Gmerald Spray. The 


40 ' 

^ Stories, The 

t m 


FOR SUNDAY-SCHOOL LIBRARIIlS. 


Iffow Could He Escape.... $1 25 


tfumpy Dumpy 1 25 

Imag-e Unveiled, The 1 00 

Jewelled Serpent, The 1 00 

Joha Bentley’s Mistake.. 50 

Job Tufton’s Best 1 25 

Joe’s Partner. 50 

Jug-or-Not.. 125 

Little Blue Jacket 75 

Little Girl in Black 90 

Life Cruise of Captain Bess 

Adams, The 1 50 

Lionel Eranklin’s Victory 1 25 

Lost Estate 1 00 

McAllisters, The 50 

Mabel’s Work 1 50 

M^ll and the Tavern, The 1 25 

Model Landlord, The 60 

More Excellent Way, A.. 1 00 
Mr. Mackenzie’s Answer, 1 25 
N ational Temperance Ora- 
tor, The 1 00 

Nettie Loring- 1 25 

No Danger 1 25 

Norman Brill’s Life-work 1 00 

Nothing to Drink 1 60 

Old Times 1 25 

On London Bridge 40 

Our Coffee-Room 1 00 

Old Brown Pitcher, The . . 1 00 

Out of the Fire 1 25 

Our Homes 1 50 

Our Parish 75 

Over the Way 1 00 

Packington Parish, and 

the Diver’s Daughter 1 25 

Paul Brewster and Son . 1 00 

Philip Eckert’s Struggles 

and Triumphs 60 

Piece cf Silver, A 50 

Pitcher of Cool Water, The 50 
Pledge and the Cross, The 1 00 


Prince of Good Fellows. |i X 
QiUeer Home in Rugby 


Court, The 1 5| 

Rachel N oble’s Experience M 

Red Bridge, The 90 

Rev. Dr. Willoughby and 

his Wine IN 

Rex Ringgold’s SchooL... 1 SI 

Ripley Parsonage 1 A 

Rose Clifton 1 50 

Rosa Leighton ; or, In His 

Strength 90 

Roy’s Search ; or. Lost in 

the Cars 1 

Saved 1 

Silver Castle... 1 

Secret of Victory 

Seymours, The 1 

Sought and Saved 1 

Step by Step 

Strange Sea Story, A 1 

Sunsets on Mt. Blanc 1 

Temperance Doctor, The. 1 
Temperance Speaker, The. 
Temperance Anecdotes. .. 1 

Time will Tell 1 

Tim’s Troubles.. 1 

Tom Blinn’s Temperance 

Society 1 

Ten Cents 1 

True to his Colors 1 

Vow at the Bars 

Voice of the Home 1 

Wealth and Wine 1 


White Hands and White 

Hearts * 

White Rose, The. ' 

Wife’s Engagemea.t Rir.’U. 
The. 

Work and Reward 

Zoa Rodman J 


Either of the ubove will be sent by ma^l, post-paid, on receipt of prica 


Address J. N, STEAR.NS, Publishing Agent, 

S8 Rcade Street, New York 








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